Real Madrid News
Real Madrid flop hardly speaks to Ancelotti, future to be sorted after meeting this month
Eden Hazard’s downfall over the past few years has been shocking, to say the least. When he joined Real Madrid in 2019, the Belgian winger was at the top of his game and was counted among one of the best players across the globe.
But, in his four years at the Santiago Bernabeu, Hazard has looked like a pale shadow of his former self. Injuries have had an impact on the 32-year-old’s inability to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabeu, but even when fit, he has been unable to stand up and make himself count.
Now, according to The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana, Hazard barely speaks to manager Carlo Ancelotti and their relationship has strained quite a lot in recent times.
The Belgian winger is of the feeling that the Italian tactician has not kept his promise of more game-time and feels let down by the manager. He is understood to be disappointed with the breakdown in their relationship which is almost ‘non-existent’ now.
The coaching staff are understood to see Hazard’s reaction as normal given the lack of minutes, but they continue to see him in the same light as the rest of the players in the squad.
Hazard’s contract with Real Madrid expires in the summer of 2024. But an exit could be on the horizon this summer itself.
As per the report, the winger’s representatives are set for a meeting with Real Madrid this month where his future will be decided. And all signs point towards the two parties agreeing two go their separate ways at the end of the season.
Signed over a club-record fee, Hazard has failed to live up to the billing at Real Madrid. At this point, a summer exit would be the best possible course for everyone involved.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho talks Carlos Espi, Diomande, Guler, Tchouameni, Atletico Madrid after Elche 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid found another way to win, but Jose Mourinho was hardly celebrating the manner of it.
Carlos Espi’s injury-time strike completed a 3-2 comeback against Elche, rescuing Madrid after they had surrendered control of a game that appeared to be in their hands.
For Mourinho, the result was welcome, but the performance raised a familiar concern.
“When everything seems easy and you let things slide, it’s dangerous. Then the team reacts and wins, but it’s not pleasant.
“The other good thing is that nobody gets bored with these matches. They’re fun,” he began saying.
Mourinho knows what is going wrong
The Portuguese coach was particularly frustrated by another drop in intensity after the interval.
Real Madrid had opportunities to put the game beyond Elche before allowing their advantage to disappear. Mourinho believes that pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“It seems obvious to me. It’s easy to understand. These are games that are all but over, where we have chances to seal the deal but don’t. After failing to do so, we go from having it easy to losing control.
“If we play poorly from the first minute to the 90th, the concern is huge.
“If we have periods where we’re at our best and others where we’re not proactive, just waiting, lacking intensity… Of course it’s a concern. But we won.”
The win keeps Madrid moving, but Mourinho’s concern is less about the points than the way his team is repeatedly making matches unnecessarily complicated.
Carlos Espi again provided the decisive moment from the bench, although Mourinho knows breaking into the starting XI will be difficult with Mbappé ahead of him.
“He’s a guy who works hard and is very motivated,” Mourinho said.
He then added, “He’s up against a player who’s in a league of his own (Mbappe), and we’re well aware of that.”
Madrid derby comes at a delicate moment
Next up is Atletico Madrid, and Mourinho’s attention is already turning towards the derby.
Rather than focusing on the opposition, he remains concerned about his own side’s ability to manage matches.
“The only explanation I can find is that we can’t keep going like this. We misjudged the opportunities we had, and once they score a goal, everything changes,” explained the Real Madrid coach.
Meanwhile, there were positives to take from individual performances, as Mourinho praised Yan Diomande’s development after another energetic outing.
“He’s improving. Physically, you can tell he has more minutes under his belt. He has a great work ethic and intelligence—he’s done a great job.”
Mourinho refuses to call Guler indispensable
Arda Guler’s importance was also questioned after another fantastic performance, but Mourinho rejected the idea that any player is beyond replacement.
“No, no one is indispensable. We were losing control when I made the substitutions; Vini did a great job on defence, but he was very tired.
“And Arda, who was playing in the number 10 position, was also losing intensity.
“I brought in a fresh Jude and Brahim when we were down 0-2, but I could sense we were losing control. That’s how it goes for us. And then, we brought in the heavy artillery and turned it around.”
Mourinho was also pleased with Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde during Madrid’s strongest spells.
“When the team was playing well, he and Valverde were playing well. They broke through the pressure easily, with skill.
“But the game had two phases—or rather three: one until it was 0–2, another until it was 2–2, and another until the end. They did a good job,” he concluded.
Source: AS
