Ecuador boss Gallardo announces Estupinan has suffered knee injury

Pervis Estupinan has picked up a physical issue while on national team duty with Ecuador, their coach has confirmed.

Estupinan did not play in the Kirin Cup third-place match today, which Ecuador lost on penalties to Panama in Tokyo. The Milan full-back – who wasn’t even on the bench at the New National Stadium – wasn’t even used in the team’s last training session.

Estupinan set for the sidelines?

According to MilanVibes, Ecuador’s coach Marcelo Gallardo explained the reason for the absence in the post-match press conference. This statement now sparks concern within the Rossoneri, as they await the exact extent and timing of the suspension.

“Pervis Estupinan has a sprained knee,” he said. The announcement came at the end of Ecuador-Panama, as reported by the journalist Rogelio Arosemena. A complete assessment will require further tests upon returning to Milan, but it comes after the defender’s performances drew criticism too.

Only additional checks will be able to determine the true extent of the injury and clarify whether it is a short-term issue or a situation that will impact the team’s schedule for the coming weeks.

For Ruben Amorim, however, this isn’t encouraging news. Milan are preparing for a high-intensity October, with nine matches in 28 days across the league and the Europa League. It is a tight schedule in which the availability of the full-backs and energy management become crucial.