- Title: Real Madrid playmaker Isco to undergo appendicitis surgery
- Date: 25th September 2018
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 25, 2018) (REUTERS) MIDFIELDER LUKA MODRIC WALKING AS HE WARMS UP MODRIC AND FORWARD GARETH BALE WALKING AND TALKING / LEFT BACK MARCELO VIEIRA JUGGLING REAL MADRID PLAYERS DIVIDED IN TWO GROUPS PASSING BALL BALE AND CENTRE BACK RAPHAEL VARANE CHASING BALL, MODRIC PASSING AND THEN CHASING BALL REAL MADRID COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI WALKING DURING SESSION MODRIC CHASING AND RECOVERING BALL MIDFIELDER TONI KROOS AND CENTRE BACK SERGIO RAMOS CHASING BALL GOALKEEPERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF GOALKEEPER THIBAUT COURTOIS BLOCKING PLAYERS PASSING BALL LOPETEGUI PLAYERS RUNNING / MODRIC AND STRIKER BENZEMA RUNNING STRIKER MARIANO DIAZ, VARANE AND BALE SPRINTING RAMOS, DEFENDER NACHO FERNANDEZ AND MIDFIELDER TONI KROOS SPRINTING REAL MADRID COACH JULEN LOPETEGUI ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, JULEN LOPETEGUI, SAYING: "Yes, this morning he (playmaker Isco Alarcon) came with abdominal discomforts and it looks like it's appendicitis and that he will have to undergo surgery. So the first thing to do is wish him the best and a fast recovery. There's always bad news when you have players missing but once we have told him we regret it and wish him a fast recovery, the next second we are thinking about the solutions, the squad and the player who is going to play instead." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, JULEN LOPETEGUI, SAYING: "Obviously it's not what I most like as a coach (individual awards like FIFA Best Player) but it's something inherent to modern football. And in the case there are awards given, I'm always happy that my players get those awards. Therefore, our major motivation this week is to get three points in Sevilla and I don't have a doubt about it. It will be a very demanding and difficult match as it has been historically so it is our challenge and an objective. The team is motivated and looking forward towards that goal, which is way beyond individual awards." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, JULEN LOPETEGUI, SAYING: "Sevilla is a very good team, very well trained, with players that have adapted very quickly to the system of (Pablo) Machin. They can play a 5-3-2 or a 5-2-3, it depends. And in that system they have very well trained attacking options. It's a team that causes problems for every rival. It's true they are on a good scoring track and it's a match that gives us a lot of hope and motivation. It's a challenge to perform a good match tomorrow against a rival that will demand that from us." PHOTOGRAPHERS LOPETEGUI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 9th October 2018 13:37
- Keywords: Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui La Liga Sevilla Isco Alarcon FIFA The Best awards
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0018Z4L2KF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui said on Tuesday (September 25) Spanish playmaker Isco Alarcon will have to undergo appendicitis surgery after having stomach problems before a training session.
Speaking the night after Real midfielder Luka Modric won FIFA Men's Player of the Year for 2018 Lopetegui said he was happy his player was recognised for his performances at the FIFA Football Awards on Monday (September 24).
Real defenders Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo along with Modric and former Real striker Cristiano Ronaldo, were included in the awards as members of best team of the season.
Modric won the Champions League with Real and then played a major role in Croatia's run to the World Cup final where they were beaten by France.
But rather than winning individual awards Lopetegui said his side were now only focused on the "very demanding and difficult match" against Sevilla.
Los Blancos visit Sevilla on Wednesday (September 26) tied on points with league leaders Barcelona on 13 points from 5 games. Trained by Pablo Machin, Sevilla are in 7th place with seven points. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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