Rayo Vallecano Coach: "Akhomach Suffered Muscle Injury, Was Very Eager to Play Against Strasbourg"

Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez discussed the injury sustained by Moroccan international Ilias Akhomach, which ruled him out of his team's match against Strasbourg in the second leg of the Conference League semi-final last Thursday evening.

Pérez confirmed in the post-match press conference that Akhomach suffered a quadriceps muscle injury during the warm-up, forcing him to miss the encounter. He added that the player was psychologically affected due to his strong desire to participate.

The Spanish coach stated: "Ilias suffered a muscle injury in his quadriceps, and he is affected because he was very excited. He had been playing through significant ankle pain."

Akhomach sustained the injury during the warm-up before the Strasbourg clash, subsequently leaving for the dressing room in tears after feeling discomfort in his left adductor muscle. This led to his absence from the European fixture, as confirmed by Spanish newspaper Marca.