Ismael Bennacer returned to Milanello yesterday to begin his second phase of his rehabilitation. The injury he suffered on May 10th during the Champions League derby forced him to undergo surgery on May 16th, arthroscopy on his right knee.
The repair of the chondral lesion of the cartilage in the right knee was successfully performed by Dr. Bertrand Sonnery Cottet, and the recovery times, up until now, have been fully respected by the player, who followed the steps set by the Rossoneri medical staff in a strict and patient manner.
The most optimistic expectations have the Algerian midfielder back on the field by mid-December, but there's a feeling that it might be postponed to January. The phase at Milanello and the player's daily sensations will dictate the agenda, because not only does Bennacer have to complete his rehabilitation, but he also needs to attain the right physical form to be able to play. Everyone at Milanello was happy to see him again, and he too showed optimism about the progress of the rehabilitation process, during which he worked hard between Milan, Paris, Algeria, Morocco, and Qatar, as per Tuttosport.
Now begins the most crucial part, where the field will start to feel beneath Bennacer's feet, even though the routine will still be different from his teammates. There will be a stage related to running where the knee will provide new feedback, including changes of direction on the field. Then, when the first phase is completed, the ball work phase will begin, which, according to the schedule, is the final step before returning to the group. Pioli and not only him are eagerly awaiting, also to see the "ideal" midfield composed of Loftus-Cheek, Bennacer, and Reijnders, which has been in the coach and management's minds since the early days of the transfer market.
Furthermore, as is obvious, Ismael's physical progress will also be monitored by the technical staff of the Algerian national team, who rely on him for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in mid-January. But today, the focus is on Bennacer's start of work at Milanello, as he turns the hourglass to mark the time towards his return to the field.
