Champions LeagueReal Madrid is in Milan. Just like last year, Real will meet Inter in the group stage of the Champions League. Then Eden Hazard scored against Guiseppe Meazza. This is a new test for Hazard.
Twelve months later, both Inter and Real Madrid have a new coach. Antonio Conte has been succeeded by Simone Inzaghi, Zizou joined ‘De Koninklijke’ and Carlo Ancelotti joined.
It is known that Zidane was quite distant towards his group of players at the end. Ancelotti provides more warmth. Gareth Bale recently talked about “a different atmosphere, better for me”, and yesterday an interview with Vinícius appeared in the Madrid press, who in turn spoke about “the confidence of Ancelotti”.
Eden Hazard also speaks in terms of “top” when it comes to Ancelotti.
Hazard has had a few hopeful weeks. His good performances with the Red Devils got an extension against Celta last weekend – Hazard played a fine hour before he was taken off tired.
“Even though he didn’t score, Eden was very good,” Ancelotti said at the press conference afterwards. “His collaboration with Benzema is going very well.”
But Inter is not Celta, or Estonia. Hazard’s exam gets tougher in Milan.
The national newspaper ABC speaks of ‘Hazard is showing signs of its return, but don’t let anyone get emotional’.
The Champions League is much more part of the DNA of the club for the sociologists of Real Madrid than the Spanish league. Florentino Pérez is even prepared to subordinate La Liga to a possible Super League. Similarly, missing the title in June was no reason to call for an institutional crisis. By contrast, you remember how the world turned out after the club’s elimination in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
a lot of pressure
Hazard will therefore be followed closely by the Madrid media tonight. The pressure goes up for him in Milan at once.
But national coach Roberto Martínez is also curious about tonight’s game. Because imagine that Eden Hazard will soon excel. Then the reality that the Red Devils can have the best Hazard in three weeks in the Final Four of the Nations League, comes closer and closer.
Milan, the follow spot on Eden Hazard, tonight from 9 pm.
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