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Kroos: “I feel sorry for those who have a lot of problems, which is not the case with Hazard”

The Real Madrid midfielder was asked about his team mate by Belgian television Eleven Sports but said he has little sympathy.

Toni Kroos
Rodrigo JiménezEFE

Eden Hazard’s situation at Real Madrid isn’t ideal. He is hardly getting any playing time and worst of all, things don’t exactly look like they will improve. Due to ongoing fitness issues, Hazard has made just seven appearances this season - featuring just three times in the starting XI. His last league game was back in November. The forward was the subject of a report on Belgian television Eleven Sports.

A team of reporters travelled to Madrid to speak with various members of the Madrid first team squad, including Toni Kroos, who left some eye-opening comments when asked if he felt sorry for Hazard for what he is going through.

People worse off

Of course it is a difficult situation, but there is no place for compassion in football,” said the German midfielder. “I don’t think Eden has a bad life. It’s not about money, it’s just that I don’t feel pity for anyone in the world of football. At the end of the day, everyone is partly responsible for their situation. I know Eden very well, we spend a lot of time together. But I only feel for those who really do have a lot of problems, which is not the case with Eden, “he said.

In the same report, coach Carlo Ancelotti also responded to the Belgian journalists’ questions: “It is a rather complicated situation, because Hazard deserves to play because of the quality he has, but it is a big squad and there is a lot of competition. I am not here to give playing time to the players, my job is to ensure that Madrid win matches. I don’t decide on the line-ups based on age or what the players earn, I don’t know what Hazard earns. I draw up the line-ups so that Madrid can win games”.