This archive report was first published on 5 November 2019.
Eden Hazard's move to Real Madrid in June 2019 was highly anticipated, with fans and the media expecting him to be a key player for the team. However, his start in Spain has been disjointed and disappointing, with many questioning whether he will ever live up to the expectations.
Despite the initial hype, Hazard has struggled to find his footing in the Spanish league. He pulled a muscle in his thigh in training before the team's first game of the season and had to withdraw from the squad. He then sat out three matches before making his first start against Paris Saint-Germain, but looked off the pace and it was a night to forget as Madrid were thrashed 3-0.
However, in recent games, Hazard has shown glimpses of his best form. He scored his first goal against Granada, a delightful looping finish that promised finally to unleash the Belgian's best. Coach Zinedine Zidane has also expressed confidence in Hazard, saying, "We know the quality of player we have and we know he is going to deliver."
But the international break checked Hazard's momentum, and he missed Madrid's first match back, a 1-0 loss away at Mallorca, due to the birth of his fourth child. In the three games since, he has appeared in bursts, delivering exhilarating moments like the glorious flick inside against Galatasaray and a run in behind to win the penalty against Leganes.
Coach Zidane believes that Hazard is getting better every day and will soon rediscover his peak. "He sees things that other players cannot see," Zidane said. "Everyone wants to see Eden playing better, but I see him getting much better every day. He will get there in the end for sure."
Real Madrid's goalless draw against Real Betis shows why Hazard's crescendo must find its climax, and quickly, if Zidane's team are to avoid the same problems up front that proved their undoing last season. Despite the best efforts of Benzema in recent months, the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo is still to be filled, and Hazard can contribute and enhance the numbers of others.
