The sky was darkening dangerously above the Commanderie. Faced with a cascade of injuries and suspensions, Roberto De Zerbi seemed resigned to once again dealing without one of his defensive pillars. After having to give up Nayef Aguerd in the middle of warming up in Auxerre on Saturday, the Italian technician even publicly drew a line under his participation in the clash against Atalanta. The speech was clear, the expression crestfallen. The massacre continued, without respite.
A surprise return that changes everything
Bluff or quick recovery? Just a few hours after his coach’s pessimistic press conference, Nayef Aguerd was present on the lawns of the training center. The Moroccan international, injured in the hip, took part in the last collective session, rekindling a flame that we thought had gone out. This surprise appearance considerably changes the situation and gives some air to a defensive sector decimated by the absences of Balerdi, Medina and Emerson.
De Zerbi’s maneuver raises questions. By announcing his withdrawal, the coach may have sought to protect his player or to confuse the issue for his Italian opponent. In any case, the presence of Aguerd is crucial information. It offers a credible option to compose its central hinge, even if doubt remains about its ability to start a meeting of such intensity. The alternative is called CJ Egan-Riley, but the Moroccan’s experience weighs heavily in the balance.
Hope is reborn before the shock
This news is all the more important as the meeting against Atalanta is crucial for the European future of OM. In a Vélodrome which expects a strong reaction, being able to count on one of its leaders would be a major psychological asset. The simple presence of Aguerd on the match sheet would be enough to reassure a group forced to draw on its reserves and its youngest elements to make up the numbers.
The final decision will be made in the last hours, depending on the player’s feelings. But after a week where the bad news accumulated, this unexpected return to training already sounds like a small victory. For one evening, OM has the right to believe in a small miracle.
