Preciado last came on less than three weeks ago in the Champions League against Manchester City. Fans haven’t seen him in action since.
“He was kicked in training on Saturday and had to leave the unit. I believe that he will be back soon,” said coach Lars Friis after the loss in Pilsen. Three days have passed and, according to the Danish coach, the situation has developed in a negative direction. “He will not be available for the next matches. The injury seems to be worse than I had hoped. It looks like he will be absent for some time,” he claimed after advancing in the MOL Cup against Zbrojovka Brno. That was Wednesday, October 30.
Before the current weekend, however, some surprising news appeared. Preciado is nominated by the Ecuadorian national team for the World Cup 2026 qualification duels at home with Bolivia and in Colombia.
Editing of the match Mladá Boleslav – SpartaVideo: LFA
Logically, fans began to ask, “Isn’t he supposed to be injured?”
The Argentine coach of Ecuador, Sebastián Beccacece, explained the situation easily. “He has been called up and we will see what his current condition is once our physios and doctors have assessed him as well. We still have time to decide. If he drops out of the nomination, we have players who can alternate on the right wing,” he stated.
Of course, the important question is where Preciado would undergo the examination. If he has to travel halfway around the world, or the national team somehow arranges a tour in the Czech Republic.
On Sunday, after the 2:2 draw in Mladá Boleslav, Sparta coach Lars Friis commented on the whole matter. “He’s still injured, we can’t use him and we won’t for some time. Nothing changes about that. Yes, he has been nominated and the association can ask for a health check. This is standard procedure based on FIFA regulations. I will just add that the Ecuadorian team knows that Angelo is injured, we share the information with them,” commented the Danish coach.
“It’s the same as with the Czech association, we also send players for examination,” added Friis.
At the duel in Mladá Boleslav, Preciado appeared in his light green coat, even though he added a video on Instagram on Saturday and marked Barcelona, Spain, as the location.
A similar situation, that the national team called up a player, but removed him from the nomination after the inspection, happened recently with Lukáš Haraslín. He is also injured and was both in Boleslav on Sunday and in the derby of the second league reserves in the morning (1:1). The Slovak national team included him among the substitutes. The injured Veljko Birmančević is also missing from the Serbian national team.
The Curious Case of Preciado: Injury or Just Playing Hard to Get?
Ah, the drama of football! One day you’re kicking a ball against Manchester City in the Champions League, and the next, you’re nursing a light injury and sipping on a piña colada in Barcelona. Welcome to the world of Preciado!
So, what’s the story here? Coach Lars Friis cracked open the injury news like a piñata on October 30, saying, “He will not be available for the next matches… it looks like he will be absent for some time.” What a joyous occasion for managers everywhere! Nothing like a good injury to spice up your tactical plans, eh?
But hold on a second—just when the fans were ready to send a search party out to find Preciado beneath the pile of physio sheets, surprise! The Ecuadorian national team decided he was fit to play for World Cup 2026 qualification matches against Bolivia and Colombia. Hold up… Isn’t he injured?
Now, we’re left wondering—are we dealing with an injured player or a clever ploy to get out of a boring couple of league matches? Sebastián Beccacece, the Argentine coach of Ecuador, chimed in with, “We will see what his current condition is once our physios and doctors have assessed him.” That sounds valid! Let’s just hope they’re not bringing out the crystal ball for this one!
Picture it: Preciado is wrapped in an ice pack, having a nice rest, and then BAM! A flight halfway around the world. What a Monday! His coach insists that they are sharing information with the Ecuadorian team. I can just see the team doctor frantically waving a fax over to Ecuador—“Uh, yeah, just kidding about that injury! Can we switch him back?”
Meanwhile, in the land of Mladá Boleslav, coach Lars Friis couldn’t help but pour cold water on the flare-up of excitement, affirming, “He’s still injured, we can’t use him and we won’t for some time.” So, my dear football fans, let’s keep our magnifying glasses handy as we try to decode this injury saga. To travel or not to travel—that is the question!
As if this situation wasn’t enough, the football gods decided to throw in more plot twists. We’ll have to keep an eye on similar stories, like the unfortunate cases of Veljko Birmančević and Lukáš Haraslín. Injured but still showing up—perhaps they too have a Netflix series in development?
So what’s the takeaway from all of this? Is it simply that football is part sport, part soap opera? Who needs Netflix when you’ve got the drama of Preciado’s injury unfolding in real-time? I suggest we grab the popcorn and prepare for more twists as this saga unfolds. Stay tuned!
Him as well. We still have time to decide.” So, what is really going on with Preciado? To shed some light on this perplexing situation, we spoke with sports analyst and football expert, Jamie Wells.
**Interviewer:** Thanks for joining us, Jamie. Let’s jump right in. Preciado was dropped from his club matches due to injury, yet the Ecuadorian national team called him up. What do you make of this?
**Jamie Wells:** Well, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher, isn’t it? On one hand, you have Coach Lars Friis declaring him unavailable due to an injury, and on the other, Ecuador seems keen to assess his fitness for the national team. It really brings into question the communication between the club and national teams.
**Interviewer:** Exactly! Coach Friis mentioned that they are sharing information with the Ecuadorian team. Do you think there’s pressure from the national side to have their players available, regardless of injury?
**Jamie Wells:** That’s definitely a factor. National teams often rely on their star players, and qualification matches are critical. However, it’s also about player welfare. It’s crucial that coaches prioritize the health of their players. They must find a balance between national pride and ensuring a player isn’t rushed back into action.
**Interviewer:** What do you think the club might do if Preciado is declared fit for international duty, yet still unfit for club matches?
**Jamie Wells:** It could foster some tension. The club would want to protect their assets—after all, they’re the ones who pay his wages. If Preciado is fit enough to join Ecuador but not fit enough to play for Sparta, expect a lot of back-and-forth discussions. The club may not release him if they feel he’s not fully recovered.
**Interviewer:** And what does this mean for Preciado personally? Is he caught in the middle here?
**Jamie Wells:** Quite possibly. The player could feel he’s letting down either his club or his country, which can be stressful. It’s essential for him to communicate openly with both teams. At the end of the day, his long-term health must be the priority.
**Interviewer:** Last question: given the nature of injuries in sports, do you think we’ll see more situations like this in the future?
**Jamie Wells:** Unfortunately, yes. As the stakes get higher—especially with World Cup qualifications—more players may face this dilemma. It’s a complex issue that puts players in a tight spot, and ultimately, they need strong support from both their clubs and national teams to navigate it.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much for your insights, Jamie! This is indeed a modern football conundrum that many players may face in the future.
**Jamie Wells:** My pleasure! Always happy to discuss the beautiful game!