“Hazard is fit but I just prefer other players”- Ancelotti explains the winger’s absence

The Belgium International has struggled for minutes throughout his Madrid career.

Real Madrid boss, Carlo Ancelotti believes Hazard has the potentials to succeed at Real Madrid but he prefers other players ahead of him in the starting XI.

Hazard, despite considered fit, was an unused substitute for Madrid as they beat rivals Barcelona 2-1 in the El-Classico on Sunday.

With just eight appearance this season for Madrid, Hazard has struggled for play time as he seems to have lost his place to other players like Vinicius Junior.

Ancelotti has now given a reason for that, and it seems its not his injury woes.

According to him, Hazard is fit enough to start for the Blancos but he just prefers to use other players.

“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 told reporters.

“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 not made any significant impact since he moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Chelsea in 2019, with injuries playing a bigger part in that.

This season, he has only managed one assist with his eight appearances in all competitions under Carlo Ancelotti.