The situation of Chadi Riad continues to prompt caution at Crystal Palace. The Moroccan defender, who suffered a serious injury to his cruciate ligaments last season, is still struggling to regain lasting physical stability, alternating between sessions with the professional group and individualized training. The London club is proceeding with great restraint to avoid any relapse.
Arriving last summer from Real Betis for around 16 million euros, the Atlas Lion quickly saw his English adventure take a turn. Injured in the medial collateral ligament during his second match, he then attempted a return after several months of absence, only to be abruptly halted by a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, prematurely ending his season.
A return in November had been considered, but the evolution of his condition remains erratic. The medical staff and the coach now prefer to adopt a day-to-day management approach, observing the reaction of his knee at each session and adjusting his program accordingly.
Oliver Glasner, the Eagles’ coach, does not hide the complexity of the situation.
“Chadi is a delicate case. His situation is constantly evolving, with ups and downs. He has been away from the pitch for over a year,” he described, highlighting the instability of the recovery process.
He specifies that the player’s physical signals vary too much to consider a linear progression:
“There are two or three days where everything seems very good, then one or two where it’s less encouraging. He is not always able to train. Every day, we reassess the situation to do what is best for him.”
Glasner also emphasizes the importance of avoiding any rush:
“After such a long absence, we want to be extremely cautious. The goal is to bring him back to a truly stable and regular form.”
Even a gradual return with the U21s is ruled out for the moment:
“He is not ready to play. Not even with the U21s. We do not want to take any risks. It’s about guiding him step by step towards a consistent performance level.”
