Ancelotti explains why Hazard is struggling for game time at Real Madrid this season
Stefan Bienkowski
- 26 Oct 2021 17:10 BST
- 7 min read
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident that Eden Hazard will get back to his best for the club this season, but has revealed that in the meantime he will continue relying on other forward players.
Despite getting over a long list of injuries that plagued him last season, Hazard has started just four of Madrid’s first 10 games of the new season and just one of their three Champions League games to date.
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Instead, Ancelotti has relied upon young wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo to provide support and service to in-form striker Karim Benzema.
And, unless Hazard can begin to get back to the top of his game, the Madrid manager will continue to overlook the Belgium international.
"He [Hazard] can play in 4-3-3 on the left or in 4-4-2 up or behind the point,’ said Ancelotti in a press conference on Tuesday. “He is ready to play, but the problem is that there is a coach who is betting on other players".
The Italian coach added: "He doesn't have that status because he's had a lot of injuries and little by little he's going to get his best version.
“I am sure that this season we are going to see his best version and that he will play more than he is doing now.
“Hazard has everything: quality, motivation? He has to hold on, what happens is that sometimes the coach prefers other players.”
Can Hazard get back to his best at Madrid?
While Ancelotti may be leaving the door slightly ajar for Hazard to make a triumphant return, the reality is that it’s highly unlikely that the former Chelsea star will ever be a real star performer at Madrid.
Even if Hazard can get back to full fitness and look as sharp on the ball as he once did at Stamford Bridge, he’ll likely have to contend with even better competition for his position when Madrid sign Kylian Mbappe and potentially Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland next season.
Madrid’s front line is already crowding Hazard out and forcing him to spend his days on the sub bench. That doesn’t look like it’ll change anytime soon.
