‘Hazard is ready to play; I just prefer another player,’ Ancelotti says

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says Eden Hazard is fit and ready to play but he simply prefers to choose other players ahead of the Belgian winger in the starting XI

Hazard, 30, was an unused substitute for Madrid as they beat Barcelona 2-1 on Sunday.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Ancelotti said: “He can play 4-3-3 on the left or 4-4-2 above or behind the striker. He is ready to play, but the problem is that there is a coach who prefers another player.

“He does not have a star status at Madrid because he has had many injuries and little by little he will have his best version.

“I am sure that this season we will see his best version and that he will play more than he is doing now.

“Hazard has it. Everything: quality, motivation. He has to endure, what happens is that sometimes the coach prefers other players “

Hazard has started just four of the seven La Liga matches in which he has featured this season and played in just one of their three Champions League matches.

Since his move to Madrid from Chelsea in 2019, Hazard has been plagued by injuries, which have limited him to just 51 games in all competitions in more than two years.

This season, he has managed just one assist in his eight appearances for Ancelotti’s side.