- Solly March suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2015
- Roberto De Zerbi is frustrated as his star midfielder faces a long spell of exclusion
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast “It’s all coming!”
Roberto De Zerbi found himself cursing his luck with injuries again as he revealed Solly March faces a ‘long time’ on the treatment table.
March appeared to bend his knee awkwardly deep into stoppage time and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher, to the bewilderment of his manager.
“We are playing a different sport this season and we are losing too many players,” said the Brighton boss.
“The worst part about today is that I think we’ve lost March for a long time.”
Brighton shone last season and ended up in the Europa Conference League.
Solly March awkwardly twisted his knee in stoppage time of Brighton’s defeat to Manchester City
He was taken off the field on a stretcher and it is feared that he will be sidelined for a ‘long time’.
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But that has resulted in extra matches and De Zerbi has no illusions that the increased wear and tear is starting to show on his team.
Danny Welbeck was also forced off the field early in the match and De Zerbi confirmed the 32-year-old suffered a muscle injury.
“I am frustrated, we have lost two important players,” he added.
‘It is tough because we are playing against Ajax – a crucial match – without (Pervis) Estupinan, (Tariq) Lamptey, March and Welbeck.
Roberto De Zerbi lamented the fact that his players are suffering more injuries so far this season
‘We need more players. We are not used to playing in European competition.
“We have to find a solution to be able to play and compete in every competition.”
March was brilliant under De Zerbi and losing him for months will be a crushing blow.
The midfielder suffered a serious knee injury earlier in his career, damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in 2015 and forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2015/16 season.