Both Leverkusen centre forwards have cancelled their international trips due to health problems. In addition, Bayer 04 are making efforts to ensure that Charles Aranguiz, who is also injured, does not travel to Chile for the national team.
They were both nominated and until Friday afternoon were still on the list of Leverkusen professionals who were due to travel to their national teams after Sunday’s Bundesliga match at Hertha BSC But it is now clear: Patrik Schick, who is currently out with a torn ligament in his ankle, will not be heading to the Czech Republic any more than Lucas Alario to Argentina.
In Alario’s case, this was not necessarily to be expected, as he was still on the substitutes’ bench for the Europa League match against Betis Sevilla on Thursday despite muscular complaints in his calf stemming from chronic knee problems. And coach Gerardo Seoane has not yet written off the penalty striker for the Hertha game either. But the complaints are persistent. And in his current condition, Alario, who has been on short time since about two weeks, would hardly have been a serious alternative for the Albiceleste.
So both goal scorers will work on their recovery during the upcoming international break in Leverkusen. Bayer are also hoping for the same in the case of Charles Aranguiz, who is out of action with a muscle tendon injury in his calf.
Despite this injury, which has condemned the 32-year-old to being a spectator since mid-October, he has been nominated for Chile’s international matches. Bayer is now counting on the midfield strategist to stay in Germany as well in order to avoid the stress of travelling and thus work on his comeback as best as possible.
The Leverkusen team is waiting with bated breath to see whether such a sensible decision will be made for Aranguiz, as it was for Schick and Alario. After all, the leading player of the Chilean national team has so far travelled to international matches in his homeland under almost all circumstances, no matter how unfavourable they may be.
