By Tom Gott
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is confident he will recover from his injury in time to feature in the Champions League final.
Tchouameni was substituted late in the semi-final second leg victory over Bayern Munich in what appeared to be a tactical change from Carlo Ancelotti.
But the 24-year-old was subsequently revealed to be suffering from a stress fracture in his foot, with the issue worrying close to the site of another injury that had sidelined Tchouameni for around two months earlier this season.
With the Champions League final scheduled for June 1, the Frenchman faces an obvious uphill battle to prove his fitness, but he told MARCA "I think I'll reach the final" when asked for an update on his condition.
Reports suggest Madrid's medical staff have not ruled out a potential return in time for the game against Borussia Dortmund, but there are understandable fears that Tchouameni will not be ready for a match of such magnitude.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has even publicly admitted he is not hopeful that Tchouameni will make it back for the final.
"We have doubts that he can make it to the final," Ancelotti confessed. "Now we will do everything we can to make sure he recovers well."
Tchouameni will miss the remainder of the La Liga season, of which just three games remain, with Ancelotti's focus solely on the Champions League final after Madrid sealed their domestic crown earlier this month.
Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois are expected to be given significant minutes over the coming weeks with a view to building up their fitness to a point that they can be serious candidates to start the Champions League final.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Aurelien Tchouameni makes Champions League final prediction after injury blow.
