“Madrid played ten“, “it was like he didn’t care“, “a ghostly performance“, “an obstacle for Ancelotti and Real Madrid“… We’re going on. Eden Hazard took for his rank in the press, on social networks and even in the post-match comments of his opponents. The Belgian was almost invisible on the pitch on Tuesday, once morest the modest team of Cacereño (Spanish D4), but his performance has far from gone unnoticed.A real flood of criticism, in line with what he has suffered for several years now in Spain.
In other words, Hazard mightn’t have started the year worse. And this month of January, however crucial for him, because it represents for him a chance to finally show himself with Real. Even if the merengue institution no longer believes in it for a long time. She got tired of hoping to see the Red Devil display the radiant face he wore with the Blues. From injuries to malforms, the most expensive man in the history of Real (115 million euros) just seems destined to become the club’s most resounding fiasco.
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A message of hope
This chance, Carlo Ancelotti seems willing to offer him. At the end of a depressing year for the Belgian, wrapped up in a catastrophic World Cup with his selection in Qatar, the Madrid coach had delivered a message of hope for Hazard. “He’s fine, he trained wellassured the Italian technician. I find him better than before the World Cup. He did a good job and I will use him more in this second part of the season..” His tenure once morest Cacereño went in that direction.
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To say that Hazard failed to seize this opportunity would be an understatement. He never justified the trust placed in him by Ancelotti. His coach did not hold it once morest him. He was the only one to take up his defense following the match, considering that the deplorable state of the pitch explained his player’s poor performance. “It was simply impossible to play footballhe said. We played in a way we are not used to, a game with long balls. And obviously, players like Hazard or Rodrygo logically struggled. Hazard had a good game during his time on the pitch. He did what he had to do.”
“Ancelotti does not make it easy for him”
A speech heard to move the problem before putting Hazard back on the bench on Saturday once morest Villarreal? Not impossible. Struggling with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, Real Madrid can ill afford to drop points en route. Ancelotti has reason to field his most successful attacking elements. From this point of view, Hazard does not compare with Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr. or Rodrygo, author of an individual feat to qualify his team in Careceño’s trap. The Belgian has only one goal and one assist in seven appearances in all competitions. And he also has to face competition from Marco Asensio and Fede Valverde, regularly lined up in attack.
Keeping him in the starting lineup is nonetheless the only way to get him back in the saddle. To allow him to regain his feelings and give him a chance to gain confidence. This is precisely what Ancelotti has refused to do so far. Hazard hasn’t had two consecutive starts with Real for more than two years and has only had 296 minutes of playing time this season. “Ancelotti does not make it easy for himestimated Guti, the legendary former midfielder of Real, on the show El Chiringuito on Wednesday. He should give him three or four games in a row before we can really judge him.”
Time is counted
Ancelotti’s choices once morest Villarreal will tell if the Italian technician really has the will to offer him the opportunity to continue. He wouldn’t just walk the talk following announcing he would increase the Belgian’s playing time. Above all, it would be a strong decision and an important message sent to the player to start him in a stadium where the Merengue club has not won since 2017. And once morest a team that is gaining momentum under the direction of Quique Setién and remains on three consecutive victories between La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
A tenure of Hazard appears uncertain in this context. What is certain is that time is running out for the Belgian in relation to his contractual situation. His lease expires in 2024 and Madrid leaders will once once more try to sell him next summer, if they failed to do so this winter. But the suitors are not jostling at the gate for the 31-year-old player, even if an interest from Fenerbahçe has been mentioned by Turkish media. Without surprise. While waiting to find out if Ancelotti will give him another chance, Hazard has been too erased at Real for it to be otherwise.
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