Scott Coleman-Imagn Images
If Christian Pulisic is the most important player for the United States Men’s National Team at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, then center back Chris Richards certainly isn’t far behind.
Richards, 26, began his career in the academy of German powerhouse Bayern Munich and has since turned himself into a mainstay for Premier League club Crystal Palace, where he’s a regular starter for manager Oliver Glasner.
However, on Thursday, Glasner revealed that Richards’ availability is in doubt for the upcoming UEFA Conference League final against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano due to a recent interview.
And the way Glasner describes it, Richards’ availability for the World Cup could certainly be in doubt as well.
USMNT Center Back Chris Richards Has A Serious Ankle Injury
“He tore two ligaments in his ankle,” Glasner said Thursday. “I think it’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling. He has to get back on the pitch to be available, and it takes time.
“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling, and of course we have a great medical department, so we will give our best and he will give his best — and then let’s see if we can get it done.”
That certainly doesn’t sound good. But there is some hope for USMNT fans and manager Mauricio Pochettino.
While we typically refer to a ligament as “torn” in the U.S. only when there is a significant tear that usually requires surgery, that’s not the case overseas.
Technically speaking, any sort of sprain is a partial tear, and given that Glasner’s first language is not English, it’s entirely possible that this is what he meant. Especially when you consider that he stated that Richards could potentially play in the final.
However, it absolutely sounds like the situation is serious enough to keep Richards severely limited, and with the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay just three weeks away, it’s certainly not something that fans want to hear, especially at a position where the team is already thin.