Ancelotti has work to do with Hazard. After the Euros, the Belgian has returned to the Real Madrid squad, underwent a medical in the morning and trained in the afternoon along with the other two new arrivals, Courtois and Valverde.
It may be the toughest pre-season for Hazard, who is in his third year at Real Madrid and the club are keeping a close eye on his development after the player's last two disastrous seasons for different reasons.
In the first season, a thigh injury followed him for several months, so much so that by the end of the season he had only made 22 appearances and scored one goal. Derisory numbers for a player of his level.
A year later, Hazard was in the spotlight for the Belgium call-up and his trip with the national team without playing a single minute. In September, a muscle injury sidelined him and his performance on his return was nowhere near what he had been at Chelsea.
By the end of the 2020-21 season, only 21 appearances and four goals. Zidane gave up and Real Madrid fans singled him out after the Chelsea exit for his laughter at Stamford Bridge. Now it's his turn to respond... for the umpteenth time.
July 27, 2021