Carlo Ancelotti has revealed Eden Hazard will start Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Cadiz on Sunday night, having trained well in recent weeks.
The Belgian’s time at Los Blancos has been hampered by injury issues and a lack of form, having managed just five goals in his career at Madrid so far. He is yet to find the back of the net this season.
However, speaking in his pre match press conference, Ancelotti said he has been impressed with Hazard’s performances in training and expects to see more quality from the former Chelsea star.
He said: “Tomorrow [Sunday] he starts. He is going to play because he has trained well and deserves it. Not because of the casualties.
“He has worked very well. He has not changed mentally. His problem is that he has not always been able to train 100%, as he does now. He is prepared for what he has shown in training.
“He was not used to playing on the right wing and I preferred Rodrygo and Asensio there. He has everything to make a very good second half of the season and be useful and important for the team.”
Real reported a Covid-19 outbreak earlier in the week, with Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Andriy Lunin, Rodrygo and assistant manager Davide Ancelotti all returning positive tests, adding to Luka Modric and Marcelo’s absences due to the virus.
On Modric, Ancelotti added: “Modric tested negative, but still does not train. He is a little tired and had a fever. Tomorrow he will not play. Then we have to wait and clarify what the regulations are like, which is not clear.”
Elsewhere, Karim Benzema has come through an injury scare and is fit to play, with Vinicius Junior likely to line up alongside the Frenchman and Hazard up front.
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