Eden Hazard was rarely on the sidelines at Chelsea. Instead he was the influential figure who glided across the pitch and guided the club to six trophies during his seven seasons in London, picking up numerous individual accolades in the process.
At Real Madrid, however, he has predominantly been picking up injuries. Since moving in the summer of 2019, the Belgian has missed 58 matches through one issue or another. Hamstring problems, a bruised ankle, a broken foot – he’s suffered all manner of setbacks, and even missed a game earlier this season with coronavirus.
Down on his luck in the Spanish capital, the 30-year-old has started just nine matches this season, but that could all change as Real enter the final straight of a season where a La Liga and Champions League double is still possible.
Hazard made just his second substitute appearance since the beginning of February in the goalless draw against Real Betis on Saturday, and he is in contention to face his former side in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg.
“He played 20 minutes the other day and he felt quite good,” said manager Zinedine Zidane. “The most important thing is that he doesn’t feel anything about his problem. He’s quite well, he’s with us, he’s happy to be with us and contribute to the team a lot.”
Hazard had long flirted with Real before signing a five-year deal in June 2019, with the Spanish club paying an initial £89m. Given Cristiano Ronaldo departed the season before, he arrived with a hefty weight on his shoulders, the marquee signing that seemingly signalled the dawn of a new Galactico era as Luka Jovic, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo also joined in a £200m-plus spree that summer.
But rather than lead the team to silverware, Hazard was on the periphery of their title win last season, while earlier this year his prolonged and multiple absences through injury saw him voted the club’s most disappointing signing by supporters on Marca’s website.
Recency bias arguably saw him poll higher than Gareth Bale and Jonathan Woodgate, with the latter’s 14-game, injury-hit spell and own goal-sending off double on debut for Real leading to him previously being voted the worst signing of the 21st century, but nevertheless it is an indication of how disappointed supporters have been with Hazard’s Hokey-Cokey act.
In, out, in, out, but, for now – in. He may not start at Real’s training ground on Tuesday, but come through the tie unscathed and he could play an even larger role at Stamford Bridge next week, a stage he regularly lit up from 2012 to 2019.
“I talked to him and he is very motivated,” Real defender Raphael Varane said of Hazard. “You are always motivated when you are playing in a Champions League semi-final, and even more so if it’s against your former club. He knows our opponent very well.”
Madrid will be buoyed by Toni Kroos’s return after the midfielder was rested for their last three games, but left back Mendy and captain Sergio Ramos remain out with injury.
Predicted Real XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Militao, Nacho; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Vinicius Jr, Benzema, Asensio
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3tXHmf8
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