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Champions League

Hazard on post-Chelsea laughter controversy: I received calls from my teammates


Eden Hazard, for one reason or another, hasn’t had things go his way in the two years he’s spent at Real Madrid. The Belgian’s time in Spain has seen him haunted by injury and fitness problems, as well as some more recent controversies as well.

Having been eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of his former club, Chelsea, Hazard caused a stir by joking with ex-teammates after the game.

“That was wrong,” Hazard admitted in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.

“What [Edouard] Mendy and [Kurt] Zouma said wasn’t even funny, but I played with Zouma and I know Mendy. It’s always fun to see your friends again.

“I know that I damaged Real Madrid‘s image. Everyone assumed that I wasn’t hurting, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I was very disappointed. If there was any game that I wanted to win then it was against my old club at Stamford Bridge.”

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The No.7 faced a backlash in Spain, particularly from some parts of the media, but he insists that his teammates were largely supportive of him.

“I got a few calls,” Hazard said when asked if his teammates had anything to say to him afterwards.

“But, honestly, it’s a very nice group and that’s one of the reasons I want to stay. There’s a good atmosphere.

“When I first walked into the dressing room at Real Madrid I was impressed. There are stars, but guys like Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema are just normal people.”

It has been suggested that the Belgian is a player that Real Madrid could look to sell this summer in order to bring in money to fund other signings, but he has no plans to leave.

“It hasn’t occurred to me for a second that I’d be better off leaving,” Hazard said.

“I’m not going to leave as a failure, I want to show that I was made for Real Madrid.

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“The last two years have been difficult and I’ve been at Real Madrid without really being at Real Madrid. When I did play, it was tough because of COVID-19. We’ve played at the training ground without fans, whereas I signed to play at a full [Estadio Santiago] Bernabeu.

“I hope that the work on the stadium can finish quickly so that the stands can be filled again. I need it like that.”

Stepping up to Real Madrid from any club can be difficult and bring added stress, but the Belgian doesn’t think that has anything to do with the problems he’s had.

“Nonsense,” Hazard said when asked if stress contributed to his injuries.

“Of course there’s pressure. Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world and when you play for them then you’re expected to be one of the best in the world.”

Replacing Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have been easy in the best of circumstances, but doing so while also suffering with regular injuries hasn’t helped.

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“That’s another thing, I’m not Cristiano Ronaldo,” Hazard said.

Ronaldo scores 60 or 70 goals in a year, I score that many in seven or eight years.

“We’re different. I’ll never jump as high as him to win a header, but I didn’t come here with the idea of being the new Ronaldo. I just have to be Eden Hazard.”





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