Berlin (DPA)
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti called on Eden Hazard to follow the same path as his teammate, Mariano Diaz, and to be patient, especially as he struggles to secure a place for him in the starting lineup.
Hazard has been suffering physically since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019. Hazard played 30 league games in his first two seasons with Real, as his participation declined mainly due to an ankle injury and a series of muscle injuries.
Hazard has not scored any goals so far in all competitions, and the only match in which he participated in the Champions League saw his exit in the 66th minute during the loss against Sherif Tiraspol.
Ancelotti stated, before facing Shakhtar Donetsk, that he would not allow Hazard to feel sad. Instead, he referred to Mariano, who made his first appearance this season last Saturday in Real’s 2-1 win over Elche, where he set up a goal for Vinicius Junior.
“A lot of players who don’t play have to have faith in themselves,” Ancelotti told a news conference. He added: No one thought that Mariano’s time would come, but it is time and the player enjoyed it and played very well, showed professionalism, and those who are not currently playing should do the same. It differs with Gareth Bale, who has been crippled by a thigh injury since returning from loan from Tottenham.
Bale played three games for Real Madrid this season, the same number of games he played with the Wales national team, the last of which was during the international break last September. Bale was called up again this month, but Ancelotti was not interested in entering into a discussion about the player’s involvement with club and country.
He said: The player is committed. His position is very clear. He has a major injury, he needs time to recover. He can take part in training before the match against Rayo Vallecano, which will be held next Saturday. He added: If the player recovers fully, we will be happy that he will play for his country, because if he plays for many minutes, he can return in a better condition.
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