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Eden Hazard’s downfall: From brilliance to burnout
Early in July 2018, Belgium’s golden generation had their heart broken for the umpteenth time when Samuel Umtiti’s header saw them eliminated in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. There still was a game to come, but it was difficult to believe that Roberto Martinez’s men could put up a brave face once again and battle it out.
The ever-insignificant third-place match between Belgium and England soon kicked off at Krestovsky Stadium. Leading 1-0 with seven minutes to go, Eden Hazard received the ball from Kevin De Bruyne, nonchalantly skipped past Phil Jones, sent Jordan Pickford the wrong way and slammed it into the near post.
The goal summed up everything about the then-Chelsea star’s campaign. Simple, elegant and filled with confidence. Hazard picked up the silver ball in the World Cup that year and was only behind Luka Modric as the best player in the tournament. Fast forward four years and Hazard barely came off the bench for his national team in Qatar.
Still just 32, age was not the factor that saw his prominence for the Red Devils fall so steeply. Moreover, the fact that not a soul batted their eye over his absence spoke volumes about the forward’s difficult four years.
Origins
Hazard was always one to be considered naturally gifted. Since the day he first played for a club at just four years old, onlookers knew they were seeing something special blossom.
In 2005, the player’s hunt for professional training took him to Lille, France. In two years, he had his first contract and made his debut for the first team aged just 16. A special chapter in his career thus began, one in which he would go on to score 36 times in 147 appearances.
It was only in June 2012 that the winger moved to Chelsea, a club in which he would go on to rewrite history. Many call him the most skilful player to have ever donned the blue colours of London, even to this day.
In his seven years at Chelsea, he took the club to the Premier League title twice. Although the UEFA Champions League proved to be a steep challenge, he won the UEFA Europa League twice in addition to two domestic cups.
To this day, the Premier League club’s website describes Hazard as a ‘shining star with special skill, speed and a smile.‘ Yet, there are many in Madrid and across the globe who would argue with every letter of that statement with their all. What brought about such a radical change in stature after all?
A fateful move to Madrid
When Real Madrid come calling, very few players even have the mind to think twice about the offer. Los Blancos‘ call is said to be a train that passes only once, and it would be devastating for any individual to miss out on the opportunity having been presented with it.
At the end of a taxing transfer saga, the Belgian International announced his departure from Chelsea to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019. The move involved a fee of €100 million, one that could increase to €146 million with variables.
The premonitory signs of an unsuccessful transfer were there for the taking from the get-go. Hazard arrived at the Real Madrid training camp unfit, overweight and unsurprisingly sluggish. He forced a strong presence in the media to defend his position, but it was clear that he already could not handle the spotlight.
A lack of fitness delayed his debut for the club by two months. Understandably fazed by his new environment and the novel system, it took the forward close to a month to record his first goal and assist which came against Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu.
From there on began a chain of vicious injuries and setbacks that took the player’s career to the cleaners.
Hazard was at the receiving end of a harsh challenge in Real Madrid’s clash against PSG that ruled him out of action for 15 games. The hairline crack was soon resolved, but he was again forced to spend 76 days on the sidelines for a fissure on his Fibula.
The 2020-21 season for Hazard was perhaps the worst any sportsperson could go through. A combination of muscular setbacks and COVID saw him miss a combined 174 days of action and reduced his presence in the squad to a mere formality.
Two years into his Real Madrid career, the Belgian had taken no quantifiable steps towards establishing himself at the club. And things hardly improved for him in his third season at the club, even as Los Blancos won the La Liga and the Champions League under Carlo Ancelotti.
“These have been three difficult years but next year I will give everything for you guys. I’m sure that next year will be mine, I’ve no doubts,” he said emotionally in an interview after being carried to a UCL without contributing.
Yet, with half the season past him, Hazard has only featured 102 minutes on the field in La Liga.
The most embarrassing development in his Real Madrid chapter, perhaps one that cannot be superseded, came early in February. An out-of-the-blue statement from the club revealed that Hazard suffered from patellar tendinosis in his left knee, all while not participating in the team’s last six games.
It has never been in doubt, but his latest injury forces one to ponder again – Is there really a way back from the mess Hazard is in?
What next for Eden Hazard
“Thank you for your love and support, a page turns today”, a clearly moved Hazard said while announcing his international retirement after Belgium’s disastrous FIFA World Cup campaign.
Over four years after winning the silver ball award in his prime, the Real Madrid ace had dropped one of the worst campaigns in a red shirt and was clearly not very happy about it.
Truth be told, many saw the move coming from afar. As harsh as it may sound, it may not be long before the world hears him face the press once more, this time announcing quits from the sport.
Football is a game of mental fortitude as much as it is of physical nuance. Hazard has lived his days as the best, amongst the best and against the best in England.
Little did the world know that the Belgian’s peak years were the ones seen as his stepping stones to greatness.
“I’ve doubted maybe going through enough injuries. I didn’t know whether I’d be at my best. I’ve broken my ankle three times and I don’t know if it will ever be the same again”, he said in 2021.
Now, with two more years and a host of injuries more in his bag, it would be criminal to even expect him to be in a position of mental strength. For all the resilience the winger has shown over the years, it all feels too overwhelming to continue beyond a point.
The hope for Hazard to return to his imperial best will live on. The dream that one day, the former wing-wizard will run through the opposition defence with his signature cutbacks and shimmies of the foot is one that will never leave the minds of Real Madrid fans.
But what seems clear at this point is that Hazard’s days as a Galactico are numbered. The 32-year-old will enter the final year of his contract in the summer and will most certainly be offloaded by Real Madrid.
Perhaps, a change of surroundings could help Hazard gather some of his lost gloss back. But a comeback from such physical, mental and emotional rock-bottom would be difficult even through a miracle. So, it would not come as a surprise if he decides to step away from the game altogether, following in the footsteps of former teammate Gareth Bale.
Real Madrid’s second European challenge of the season is here, and they will be playing on the road against a formidable opponent in AS Roma.
The Merengues managed a massive win over Inter Milan on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League despite not playing at their best, and will hope to keep the momentum going in the competition tomorrow night.
Yet, it is also clear that Los Blancos have underdelivered by far this season and have been nowhere close to their best. In that sense, Roma arrive as a massive challenge and momentum-deciding clash ahead of El Clasico.
Having started off with a win over Villarreal after returning from the international break, Real Madrid currently have momentum on their side. Whether they can take an extra step forward and play more convincingly, however, remains to be seen.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Roma vs Real Madrid.
An undefeated opponent
Jose Mourinho taking on Gian Piero Gasperini tomorrow will be a revisit to football heritage. After all, both coaches have a long and successful history and are writing the final stages of their managerial careers.
The respect they hold for each other is massive, and while Real Madrid would normally be comfortable favourites against Roma, matters are not as clear this time around.
Heading into tomorrow’s clash, Los Blancos are on a rocky run of form and have already lost two games this season in La Liga.
In contrast, the hosts Roma are undefeated this season, and that comes as a massive warning sign for Real Madrid.
The Italian side kicked off the season with three wins in three games against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta, and then drew against Fenerbahce in their opening UCL game.
Their last three games have been against difficult opponents in Torino, Inter Milan and Como, and while they did beat the first of the three, they came away with strong draws against the two big Italian sides.
Entering the game against Real Madrid, Roma will completely back themselves to pull off an upset given Los Blancos’ form, especially considering that they have the home advantage and that Real Madrid have struggled on the road.
For Mourinho and co., it will not be an easy challenge in any sense of the word.
The double-pivot question
The midfield, by far, has been Real Madrid’s biggest bottleneck this season, and the manager’s idea of fielding Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde as his big game double-pivot does not appear to be promising.
While the duo should work well on paper, their combination has not generated nearly as much control and creativity as Real Madrid require in the few games they have started together.
As they stare up to a massive European challenge, the big question thus remains as to who the manager will trust as his double-pivot pairing.
Both players started together and played decently in the win over Villarreal, but Roma will be a whole different challenge. Having players who can keep possession on that front is crucial.
Therefore, it remains to be seen what decision the manager takes in the central midfield department. Starting Valverde and Tchouameni together, at this point, would be a massive risk, but it is not easy to decide which of the two start on the bench.
Even if an alternative arrangement is to be explored, the options are simply not good enough, with Bernardo Silva not earning a place yet and Arda Guler possibly lacking the physical presence Real Madrid need in midfield.
Will Vinicius start?
Despite openly backing the player ahead of Real Madrid’s game against Villarreal, Jose Mourinho started Vinicius Jr. on the bench at the weekend and only called him for a second-half cameo.
After coming on, the player made headlines for being sent off after a disallowed goal in a passage of five minutes
Vinicius, now, will remain suspended for potentially three league games and will miss some massive games including El Clasico. His suspension does not apply in the UEFA Champions League, but it remains to be seen how Mourinho handles the situation.
On one hand, the manager knows that he cannot count on Vinicius for the next few weeks. Fielding the player in the XI, in that sense, will be understandable.
Concurrently, however, there is a legitimate debate as to whether Real Madrid are better with or without the Brazilian star at this point. Given how Guler and Yan Diomande have both shown more value, there is a strong case to drop Vinicius despite his availability.
So far, the manager has openly backed the winger time and time again, and it will be interesting to see what he decides about Vinicius’ participation tomorrow. Needless to say, it will speak volumes about where the player stands in Mourinho’s pecking order.