After Beka’s cruciate ligament tear: Who will now form the central defense at FCL?

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At FC Luzern the focus is again on sports. After the national team’s break, Yverdon comes to the Swissporarena. The Central Swiss team wants to forget the two league defeats in a row. However, they have to undertake this endeavor without Ismajl Beka (23), who tore his cruciate ligament against Lausanne.

The central defender went under the knife in Innsbruck on Wednesday. A return this season is doubtful. Bitter for the team of coach Mario Frick (49). After all, they lost their defense chief, who is one of the best in the league by numerous metrics.

The question of who will take Beka’s position next to veteran Denis Simani (32) is even more central. “We used the national team break to find the best possible combination in central defense,” Frick explains. In concrete terms, he has to choose between two players who have played fewer than twenty Super League matches together: Luca Jaquez (20) or Mauricio Willimann (20).

Who gets the contract?

Jaquez is from Lucerne with Dominican roots. He is often compared to a young Manuel Akanji. However, until now he has had difficulty standing up for himself, partly because he did not have the necessary luck. He had to be substituted injured in five of the total twelve starting eleven appearances.

For his part, Willimann has made just four FCL appearances. The Mexican-Swiss is considered a born leader. He repeatedly wore the captain’s armband in the club’s youth academy and the national team. Accordingly, he probably handled the two penalties against Lausanne that were his fault and were whistled very severely.

Young people are needed

So they don’t have much experience. Yet they have to deliver immediately. Shouldn’t the departure of Marco Burch (23) have been compensated by recruiting an experienced player so that he can continue to develop carefully? Frick waves him goodbye.

The coach is convinced that Jaquez and Willimann have what it takes to triumph. “We have full confidence in our central defenders. As bitter as the injury is for Beka, it ensures that other players can get playing minutes.” The Liechtenstein native also adds that it is part of the club’s philosophy to support and challenge its own young players.

So the path is clear for the two defenders. They have it in their own hands. Jaquez will probably be favored against Yverdon.

Source : Blick