Leonardo Balerdi ready to find the lawn after his knee injury
The crutches are now arranged for Leonardo Balerdi. The Argentine central defender of the Olympique de Marseille (OM) took part in the collective training, after having suffered a sprain of the knee during the defeat against Reims on 29 March. His return to the field could take place this Sunday, on the occasion of the reception of Brest at the Stade Vélodrome, subject to a gradual increase in intensity during the sessions of the week.
Roberto De Zerbi, OM coach, is clear about his intentions: “Next week I want him to play. For several weeks, the Italian coach had to tinker with his defense because of repeated absences. In particular, he repositioned Ulisses Garcia in central defence alongside Murillo, successfully against Montpellier.
According to L’Equipe, the OM staff accelerated the pace to find its central defender Leonardo Balerdi, victim of a sprained knee on 29 March in Reims. Faced with high-flying opponents like Brest or Lille, De Zerbi wants to be able to count on the speed and reading of Balerdi’s game. In his absence, Kondogbia and Cornelius suffered from slowness, while Luiz Felipe Ramos still struggles to regain full confidence.
Balerdi’s presence is important not only in the field, but also in the changing room. Last Saturday, he was present at the Stade Vélodrome to support his teammates against Montpellier, even attending the last talks. “His presence is always important,” says L’Equipe, an Olympian manager.
despite some tensions in the past, especially after the defeat against Auxerre in November, De Zerbi has never hidden his admiration for his defender: “I hope that the big European teams never realize that Balerdi exists … He is an extraordinary player,” he slipped away after the victory against Nantes on March 2. Statistically, the difference is clear: with Balerdi starting a full match (21 times this season), OM has an average of 1.90 points per game, compared to 1.67 without him. A major asset as they approach the final straight of the championship.