Zidane's new plan for Hazard

Posted Friday, December 25, 2020 by Marca.com

Eden Hazard in training Realmadrid.com

Zinedine Zidane looks set to continue his careful treatment of Eden Hazard to ensure the Belgian suffers no more injury relapses.

It has been a week since Hazard was given the all-clear by the club's medics, but Zidane left him out of the LaLiga Santander encounter with Eibar and didn't bring him on against Granada from the bench. He didn't even make the player warm up.

"I didn't think it was the right moment," Zidane explained.

"It was a difficult game."

All of which is a sign that Zidane is biding his time before reintroducing Hazard, and that he is determined to make this latest comeback his last.

He wants Hazard to be in a good state before getting pitch time, something that will ensure he doesn't feel any extra physical or mental pressure.

That wasn't always the case when the 29-year-old returned from injury on previous occasions, with the team often at critical moments which Hazard felt compelled to contribute to despite not being in peak condition.

But with Los Merengues' form having turned around of late, there should be easier moments to ease him in.

The Granada match was tougher than expected and that's why Zidane chose to bring on Marco Asensio and Vinicius ahead of the Belgian.

It gives Hazard another week to get up to speed ahead of the trip to Elche on December 30 in which Zidane looks set to give Hazard some pitch time, likely half an hour.

This gradual return - it is hoped - will eventually see the best of Hazard in a Real Madrid shirt.