During’exclusive interview granted to RTBF this Monday from Tubize, Robert Martinez agreed to take stock of the current situation ofEden Hazard. The captain of the Red Devils has recently been talked regarding in the Spanish press by being spotted in a Brussels nightclub two days before facing the Netherlands, while enjoying a night out off during the last gathering of the Red Devils.
“Eden has an important role to play within the team, as a person but also as captain, underlined Roberto Martinez. We trust our players, and he was allowed to spend time with family and friends. There is a very clear story behind it, but I’m not going to talk regarding it in public, it will be handled internally. I wouldn’t like it to repeat itself, but there are reasons for this story.”
“Eden Hazard is still a very important player for the national team, that’s 100% sure, resumed the coach. His experience, his influence on opponents, his ability to eliminate a man, to create danger… In this profile, he is, in my opinion, one of the best in the world. Still up to date. But now we have to wonder if he can still play 90 minutes, or seven matches in a very short period of time. It’s very different, and his situation can change enormously over the next five weeks. Everyone is aware of his situation: Eden has not chained matches for a very long time, and that has consequences. We just had him play twice sixty minutes, that was always the plan. And he still manages to help the national team. We will take stock of his situation as the World Cup approaches, and we will see what role we can give him. I don’t see him as a false N.9, or as a player who can start in a central position. I see him as someone who has to play on the left and get into the game. That’s how we see the best Eden. I don’t see him as a joker either, who can make the difference coming from the bench. His style of play is the opposite: he is a player who must take the rhythm of the match in hand, from the start of the match. We’ve been dating for six years, we know exactly what to expect from him.”
