A pivotal year. This is how we could sum up Eden Hazard’s future season at Real Madrid. Rid of his plate on the ankle, the Brainois will no longer have an excuse. And, good news, he is not looking for it. Like his statement to the Madrid public at the party after the Champions League victory: “I will give everything for you”. With the Devils, the player also found a smile by showing some bits of his enormous talent during the last rally. Auspicious.
In Madrid too, we hope to see the great Eden Hazard again. But in what role? On the left, Vinicius Jr took up residence brilliantly last year (22 goals, 16 assists). No need to mention Benzema’s season. Words fail to explain how essential he is to this Real. There remains the right which is almost vacant but which corresponds less to the qualities of the 31-year-old Belgian. Especially since other elements have proved valuable at different times of the season such as Rodrygo, Valverde or Asensio (we say about the start).
For AS, Eden Hazard will not start but he will have many more opportunities than last year. Especially in an unusual role for him. “The staff see Hazard as a possibility to give air to Karim Benzema”estimates the Spanish daily. “Ancelotti knows that the World Cup requires being careful with the Frenchman. He will be 35 in December and has suffered a very heavy season (3,919 minutes last season). In this context, Eden Hazard could fill this new role .”
The Italian coach is convinced that he can fulfill this role brilliantly. Because Eden Hazard is “freed from all physical and mental burden”. Last year, Jovic fulfilled this mission. But the Serb has never convinced and is on the way out. A priori, the other number nine will be Borja Mayoral who was loaned to Getafe last year.
Eden Hazard: ‘I’m going to be who I was again’
Through the door or through the window, Eden Hazard must above all play. The good news is that the World Cup in Qatar is loading up the calendar. Ancelotti will need everyone. And the Red Devil will have his say. “I’ve always said, I’m going to be who I was again”, had explained the number 7 during the box made by Belgium against Poland (6-1). Ancelotti and all Madrid residents are waiting for this.
But will placing him as number nine allow him to become the great player he was? Strangely, the figures prove that he can quite evolve in this position. In his 30 outings, he scored nine goals and provided eight assists according to Transfermarkt. In all, he was decisive all 124 minutes. Not so bad for the uninitiated. It was obviously at Chelsea where he was most decisive with 8 goals and 6 assists in 1,749 minutes.
Playing as a false nine was not so successful for him at the Merengues, on the other hand. Even if he did not have the opportunity to shine too much with 15 short minutes in the legs in two games. Above all, Ancelotti did not seem convinced by this idea. But the new form of Eden Hazard seems to have reshuffled the cards. “Hazard will be able to add a new dimension to his game which will open more doors for him to find continuity and regularity”add our colleagues. “His low center of gravity makes him an incredible ball protector. This also allows him to perform short dribbles to unbalance and become a headache for the opponent. Without this recurring fear of contact that went hand in hand with his nasty ankle injury, he will be able to regain that advantage. The irreverent Eden aspires to become Hazard again and Ancelotti will open the doors to him with this new role.”