On Sunday, the versatile defender David Alaba became the third Real Madrid player to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Austrian captain was substituted before halftime in the team's 4-1 win against Villarreal in the Spanish La Liga.
Alaba is expected to undergo surgery on his left knee in the coming days and is not likely to play again this season.
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Left-back Ferland Mendy was also troubled by a muscle ailment during Sunday's game. Ancelotti downplayed the problem, but it wasn't clear when Mendy would return to action.
"We are really sad about it because he is another player that we will lose," Real gaffer Carlo Ancelotti was quoted as saying by the Associated Press." I've never had three of my players get cruciate injuries in four months," he reportedly added.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Eder Milito also underwent surgeries to repair their knee ligaments this year, while midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and forward Arda Gler sustained other knee problems that sidelined them for significant periods. Regular starters Vincius Junior and right back Dani Carvajal are also out injured.
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The defense is likely to worry Ancelotti as Nacho Fernndez and Antonio Rudiger are the only central defenders currently available at his dispense.
Ancelotti said he may need to use midfielder Aurlien Tchouameni in the middle of the defense. The France international is just returning from a foot injury, though, having made his first appearance since October as a late substitute against Villarreal on Sunday.
Ancelotti will likely complete the squad with some reserve-team players, and the club may also sign someone during the winter transfer window. Ancelotti said Milito and Courtois could potentially make it back to the squad before the end of the season, but did not offer any other detail on a timetable.