Barcelona are optimistic about their chances of seeing midfielder Philippe Coutinho back in action before the end of the season.
The Brazilian recently underwent a second operation on the knee injury that has kept him out since the end of 2020 and it was initially feared that his season, including the Copa America 2021, could be over.
Coutinho was expected to be back now Alex Caparros / Getty Images
But while club officials are reluctant to put any kind of time frame on Coutinho’s recovery, AS says that the general consensus is that the 28-year-old can be back in five or six weeks if everything goes according to plan.
Barcelona have ten games left to play in all competitions this season, with their last match coming against Eibar on May 23, and it has not been ruled out that Coutinho could make it back in time to play a part in that match.
Manager Ronald Koeman would have to make a late decision on whether he feels the Brazilian is on his way at that time, especially given that there is still so much to play for in La Liga.
Monday’s 1-0 victory against Real Valladolid moved Barcelona one point behind league leaders Atletico Madrid, and with such fine margins, Koeman can decide that it is not in the team’s best to take back Coutinho if he is less than 100%.
Meanwhile, Coutinho will remain in Brazil with national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar and his team of physios, which has been taken as a sign of the midfielder’s lost confidence in Barcelona’s medical staff.
It is worth mentioning that Coutinho is not the first Barcelona player to turn to outside help for an injury this season. Teen winger Ansu Fati is encouraging help anywhere and anytime after two club-recommended knee surgeries failed to repair his problem.
Fati faces the need for a third operation | Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Of the couple, it is Fati whose season seems to be in most trouble. A third operation would definitely exclude him, while there is no guarantee that any natural therapy will have the desired results either.
The same is true of Coutinho, although there is at least some confidence that his second operation has been a success. It seems to be a matter of time, although the season is slowly slowing down, Coutinho may not have enough to come back.
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