Teammate Benteke on Hazard: Eden tries to avoid contact because of injuries. He’s done as a dribbler

When Eden Hazard shone at Chelsea, he was one of the best players in the world. His dribbling, when the ball was stuck at his feet, was admired by all fans and drove opposing defences crazy. But according to his Belgian teammate Christian Benteke, we won’t see that Hazard again.

Fourteen goals, sixteen assists, that’s the record in the Premier League that Hazard parted ways with Chelsea with. He went to Real Madrid, where he would continue to show his magic. But this engagement turned out disastrously.

Paradoxically, one would have expected Hazard to have health problems in the more competitive and faster English league than in the more footballing and technical Spanish La Liga. But it is exactly the opposite.

The 30-year-old has been plagued by injuries since the autumn of 2019, when his ankle was ‘devastated’ by Belgian national teammate Thomas Meunier in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and PSG at the Santiago Bernabéu. Since then, Hazard has never returned to his optimum form and has spent more time on the sidelines, most recently on the bench.

He has never played more than 7 competitive games in a row in the white jersey. He hasn’t scored a minute in any El Clásico, yet he is in his third season at Real Madrid. When he does come on, his performances are very poor, which is why he has been sitting on the bench lately, even though he is healthy.

But in Belgium, he is the captain of the national team, so his place is secure. Against Estonia in the qualifiers he was in the starting line-up and played 61 minutes. His teammate Christian Benteke, who plays for Crystal Palace and notched a goal and an assist against Estonia, has an explanation for Hazard’s decline.

“Hazard is a different player today because of his injuries. He tries to avoid contact so he doesn’t get injured, even though his style of play demands it. The Eden thing, which has prodribed 5-6 players, is over. But just because he doesn’t do that anymore doesn’t mean he can’t still be decisive,” Benteke explained to reporters after the game.

“Eden is an ordinary guy who tries not to get hit by the opponent, because the pain stays in you and logically you change your mind,” Benteke added.

Hazard has really changed his style of play, he is not doing well at all at Real Madrid, if he gets the ball and has the opportunity to go one-on-one he almost always changes his mind and puts the ball back.

So at this late stage of his career, he has to find ways to be useful for his club if he wants to keep playing at the best level.

Source: Twitter | Madrid Xtra, Livesport