The Chilean national team are currently in Colombia where they’re playing in the eleventh round of the World Cup Qualifiers tonight.
Added to the whole dramatic situation (Chile are currently in fifth place, out of the straight qualification zone), Alexis Sanchez’s injury is the main subject of all the headlines about the game.
Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi gave a pre-match press conference last night and, obviously, most of the questions were about their main star.
“We obviously counted on Alexis for this match, unfortunately he suffered a small injury and can’t be considered for tomorrow’s game,” he said (via Emol).
Asked if Arsenal were trying to bring the player back to England, Pizzi answered: “We don’t have the information that there’s a pressure from London for Alexis to return, Alexis has the chance to play on Tuesday.”
“The medical report says about a small injury that it is best to wait to see how it evolves, so we prefer him not to travel and not to suffer from the flying hours. This decision was made in conversation with the medical staff, who explained that it was not good to travel because of the wear.”
After facing Colombia tonight, Chile are playing Uruguay at home on Tuesday. As Argentina are currently in sixth place, Pizzi’s side can’t even think to be surpassed by them, otherwise they would be even out of the playoff place.
