Ancelotti: Hazard is healthy, the only problem is that I prefer other players

Even in his third season, Eden Hazard hasn’t found out what it’s like to play El Clásico. While he was always injured in previous years, he was fit at the weekend, but Carlo Ancelotti chose not to field him.

Hazard’s tenure at Real Madrid has been one big fiasco so far. Only 5 goals in three seasons, plus 7 assists in all competitions. Just for comparison, last season alone in the Premier League he had a 16+15 record.

Often knocked down by injuries at Madrid, Hazard has yet to feature in more than seven games in a row in three seasons. And when he has played, his performances have not been godlike. So it’s no wonder his protected star status is waning and Carlo Ancelotti is not afraid to put him on the bench.

At the weekend’s El Clásico, Hazard was medically fit to start, but he only watched the game from the bench. On the left wing, Vinícius Junior is in fantastic form, and on the right wing, another young Brazilian Rodrygo is playing well, who assisted Alaba’s first goal.

Hazard, however, didn’t even get a kick off the bench at the Nou Camp. Rodrygo was replaced by Federico Valverde, while Vinícius was later replaced by Marco Asensio. So at the press conference, journalists asked Ancelotti what the problem was with Hazard.

“He is healthy, he is ready to play, the only problem is that there is a coach who prefers other players, ” Ancelotti told reporters.

“He doesn’t have star status at Madrid because he hasn’t played much and he’s been injured a lot. But he will gradually get to his best version,” the Italian strategist believes.

Other reports from Madrid then suggested that Hazard must be viewed with caution and cannot play two games in a row because of the risk of muscle injuries. Thus, there is loud speculation that the Belgian footballer will go back to Chelsea, where he has been most successful. A link with Real Madrid just might not be in his favour.

Source: Goal, Marca