Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Eden Hazard
When Real Madrid broke its personal switch document to signal Eden Hazard, membership president Florentino Pérez was assured he spent properly on a prime participant who would refresh a group lacking Cristiano Ronaldo.
A 12 months and a half later, many in Spain imagine Hazard’s unwell fortune with accidents imply he won’t ever be the star he was within the English Premier League.
Hazard has missed extra video games (50) than he has performed (35) since becoming a member of Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 resulting from a set of leg accidents, together with a hard fracture in his proper foot throughout his first season with the Spanish membership.
Hazard suffered one other setback this week. Madrid mentioned on Wednesday that Hazard injured his left thigh — reportedly throughout observe — and his “recovery will continue to be assessed.”
The newest recreation he’ll miss is on Saturday, the Spanish league match at Huesca.
“Hazard is not happy with the situation,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane mentioned on Friday. “Nor does he understand it completely, because he is doing his job. Hazard is the first one who wants things to be different.”
Hazard arrived in Spain in 2019 tasked with filling the void created by Ronaldo’s departure for Juventus one 12 months earlier than. Madrid was satisfied that the charge of 100 million euros ($113 million) plus add-ons was definitely worth the dynamic playmaker who scored targets and assisted on many others to assist Chelsea win a Premier League, the FA Cup, the English League Cup, and the Europa League twice.
Instead, many followers and voices within the Spanish sports activities press are questioning if Hazard, given his value to the membership in switch and wages, has turn out to be a legal responsibility. While Gareth Bale’s brittle physique additionally annoyed Madrid’s trustworthy, the Welshman did present his group with some spectacular targets, notably in Champions League finals.
Hazard, nevertheless, has not often proven flashes of the expertise he displayed at Chelsea. The ahead, who additionally led Belgium to a World Cup semifinal in 2018, has solely 4 targets for Madrid.
At 30 years previous, time is now not on his facet, both, and Madrid has youthful gamers akin to Marco Asensio and Vinícius Júnior who can fill his spot within the lineup.
“We want to see Eden without any problems or injury trouble but he’s having a run of bad luck,” Zidane mentioned. “It’s a really powerful scenario for him as a result of he desires to indicate what he’s received and play for Real Madrid. He’s a participant who someday we’ll see again taking part in nicely and injury-free. I hope that point comes now, as soon as he’s recovered from his newest knock.”
Hazard’s troubles parallel the group’s rocky season. Other than victories over Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, Zidane’s facet has had a poor marketing campaign. Just in January, it misplaced to Athletic Bilbao within the Spanish Super Cup semifinals and was humiliated by third-tier Alcoyano within the Copa del Rey.
With solely two wins in its final 5 Spanish league matches, Madrid has let Barcelona catch it within the standings whereas Atlético is racing away to dethroning it as league champion with a 10-point lead and a recreation in hand.
Zidane accepted the criticism for his group’s dangerous type, but additionally demanded respect for a facet that gained the league title final season and plenty of different trophies.
“We know there’s an awful lot of talk, but we’re keen to play the game and we’re preparing to try and win it,” he said. “We’re only looking at the Huesca clash and to get back to what we were doing not long ago. We’re going to fight until the final game.”
They additionally hope Hazard is a component if it.
