Goal. com
Eden Hazard will soon be firing on all cylinders for Real Madrid but Zinedine Zidane has warned he will remain a target for opposing players as he left the Belgian out of his matchday squad for the Merengue’s midweek clash.
The former Chelsea star has not had the expected impact since arriving in the Spanish capital in June last year.
Having dazzled at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian’s maiden campaign in La Liga has been disrupted by injury and he underwent ankle surgery in March.
Since the return from the coronavirus-enforced break, Hazard has been substituted in all four games he has played in, but he has also continued to be met with some rough treatment, drawing regular fouls.
Madrid coach Zidane, who has guided his side to the top of La Liga ahead of Thursday’s visit of Getafe, sees nothing sinister in the way opponents deal with Hazard but says he can expect more of the same as the 29-year-old seeks to rediscover his fitness and best form.
“He’s very good and the opponents know it,” Zidane said when asked about the number of fouls committed against Hazard.
“But there’s no intention of hurting any player.
“We have to be calm with Eden. He’s been off the pitch for a long time and you have to go easy on him.
“He’ll be fine in a little while.”
Another player in the Madrid ranks not having quite the season he will have hoped for is James Rodriguez.
The Colombia international has spoken freely of his frustration at not getting enough playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Zidane understands how he feels.
“James is telling the truth,” said the Frenchman. “He wants to play more and that’s normal. I understand that.
“But we’re going to go until the end like this.”
Madrid’s title hopes received a further boost on Tuesday when Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid, with Lionel Messi’s 700th goal proving insufficient for the Catalans.
That result means that the Merengue can go four points clear with just five games left to play at the top of La Liga should they take down Getafe, while Zidane’s charges also hold the edge over Barca in the event of a tie on points at the end of the season due to their superior head-to-head record.
