Hazard retains support amid Real Madrid injury crisis
Aside from Zinedine Zidane and the rest of the players in the Real Madrid dressing room, praise and support for Eden Hazard have also come from his former Chelsea team mates.
Eden Hazard is currently going through one of the most difficult moments of his career. Since his arrival at Real Madrid, the Belgian has been plagued by injuries, which has stopped him from showing his best at the Bernabéu.
In a recent interview, the 30-year-old winger revealed that his family has helped him cope with this difficult situation, while he hopes it won’t be too long until he can give his best at Real Madrid. But in the meantime, he can continue to count on the full support of Zinedine Zidane and the rest of the players in the squad, who are aware of the difficulties he has had to face.
Real support for Hazard
The last to come out to praise Hazard was Vinicius, his main competition in the squad for the left-wing position. “He always talks to me. Off the field he is a very good person. He is always happy. I am happy to be able to fulfill a dream by playing with him,” said the Brazilian of his team mate in a recent interview with TNT Sports Brazil.
“He is a great player, I used to watch what he did on television and how he took risks with the ball. To be able to fight for a position with someone like him makes me happy too.”
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Hazard offered praise and support from former Chelsea team mates
However, the praise and support amid his current predicament hasn’t just come from those in his current dressing room. Hazard has also found support from some of his former Chelsea tame mates.
"I can see that he’s frustrated and wanting the injuries to give him a break. His dream was to play for Real Madrid,” César Azpilicueta said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. “But for one reason or another – because of the ankle, because of muscle problems – he hasn't been able to show his class. As a friend, I hope he can. He's a great guy.”
Hazard has also received high praise from Vinicius’ compatriot Filipe Luis, who played with him at Chelsea during the 2014/2015 season.
“Alongside Neymar, Eden’s the best I’ve played with. He’s up there with Messi, winning games alone. He didn’t run to defend much, didn’t train well, and five minutes before games he’d be playing Mario Kart in the dressing room,” Filipe Luis told The Guardian.
“He trained and warmed up laces untied. But he’d go out and no one could take the ball. He’d dribble three or four. If opponents got too close, he’d just pull away, so powerful.”
He added: “Watching him enjoy football is like honey … So intelligent: one-two, combine, go alone; assist, score, everything. Maybe he lacks the ambition to say ‘I’ll be the world’s best’, because he could be. For talent, the best.”
Zidane’s affection for Hazard remains
Aside from his close friend and Belgium team mate Thibaut Courtois, his main support in the Madrid dressing room is Zidane. The French coach continues to have full confidence in Hazard although he understands that he must improve in certain areas if he wants to regain the levels he reached as a Chelsea player.
As the doubts have arisen about Hazard, Zidane has remained steadfast in his message: we must be patient and eventually he will give Madrid fans the joy they had expected.
“We want to see Eden without problems, without injuries. It is especially very difficult for him, because what he wants is to be well and play for Madrid,” Zidane reiterated at a recent press conference.
“One day we are going to see him play well and without injury. We have to be positive. we need him to be at 100%. He is doing everything he can to reach that and he wants that more than anyone.”
Zizou is certain that with Hazard injury-free and at his 100% best, Madrid will have all the elements they require to reclaim the Champions League title.