Hellas Verona struggle continues as Rafik Belghali suffers relapse

Hellas Verona’s struggles at the bottom of Serie A have deepened, with Algerian international Rafik Belghali’s injury highlighting the club’s ongoing challenges.

Speaking at a press conference, sporting director Sean Sogliano described the team’s situation as “negative, dramatic, almost impossible,” while insisting that players remain committed despite the difficulties.

Sogliano pointed to up to ten unavailable players as a major factor behind Verona’s poor results. The squad has been hit hard by serious injuries, including cruciate ligament tears suffered by Suslov and Serdar, which have significantly weakened a side that appeared promising at the start of the season.

Belghali’s case exemplifies the club’s struggles. The Algerian full-back emerged as one of Verona’s standout performers in the first half of the season and earned his debut for the Algerian national team during the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, his international breakthrough has had a cost. Belghali injured his ankle during the tournament and returned to Verona not fully fit.

Despite intensive treatment from the club’s medical staff, he suffered a relapse after resuming training and competitive play, leaving the team further depleted.

Verona’s current injury crisis has compounded their difficulties in Serie A, where the club remains at the bottom of the table.

Sogliano’s comments underline the challenges of managing a squad beset by injuries while trying to maintain form and results in Italy’s top flight.

As the season progresses, the recovery of Belghali and other key players will be central to Verona’s hopes of avoiding relegation.

The club faces the delicate task of integrating returning players while managing ongoing absences, emphasizing the thin margins between survival and failure in Serie A.