Careful with Hazard

Posted Sunday, September 19, 2021 by Marca.com

Ancelotti explained that the Belgian struggles with back-to-back matches

Careful with Hazard
Eden Hazard and Carlo Ancelotti Angel Rivero / MARCA

Eden Hazard is part of the Real Madrid travelling squad for their Sunday night match away at Valencia, but Carlo Ancelotti knows he has to be very careful with the Belgian.

The 30-year-old didn't play a single minute against Inter on Wednesday, suffering from a minor knee issue that kept bothering him in training in the days after that Champions League game. Having trained with the team on Saturday, though, he'll be available at Mestalla.

"We must to be careful with him because of past injuries," Ancelotti added during his press conference on Saturday.

"To play him in two matches in a row could be difficult."

Having watched on from his spot on the sidelines against Inter, the two-matches-in-a-row problem isn't a factor for Hazard for this Sunday's game at Valencia, but there is a need to be very careful with the 30-year-old, especially against a team coached by Jose Bordalas. His sides are always physical and aggressive.

Hazard could start up front alongside Karim Benzema and Vinicius at Mestalla, with Ancelotti still believing in the wide forward.

"He's not yet at the level we all want, but we're all confident that he'll get back to his best," was how the Italian put it in his press conference.

Hazard's hot and cold start to the season

There has been a little bit of everything so far for the Belgian this season. In the first two matches, Hazard was a starter and he impressed against Alaves before struggling against Levante.

Next, he came off the bench to play 13 minutes plus stoppage time in the victory away at Real Betis, before starting again against Celta Vigo in Matchday 4, playing an hour before going off after suffering the blow to his knee during a clash with Jeison Murillo.

Then came the Inter match, where the 2019 signing didn't feature at all, but now he could take to the pitch from the off against Valencia. If he does, it'll be with some caution. Ancelotti is determined to protect his man.