07.11.2019 | Author: Amir Bashir

Arsene Wenger explains why Eden Hazard is struggling at Real Madrid

The Belgian is finding life difficult in Spain

Real Madrid: Neuzugang Eden Hazard, hier beim Einmarsch in die Allianz Arena in München am 30. Juli 2019 beim Audi Cup gegen Tottenham, trägt Zentnerlasten an Druck mit sich herum... — MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 30: Eden Hazard of Real Madrid enters the pitch for the Audi cup 2019 semi final match between Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur at Allianz Arena on July 30, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for AUDI)

The 28-year-old forward has managed to score just 1 goal in his first ten appearances since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer.

Arsene Wenger believes that issues related to his fitness are preventing Eden Hazard from finding his scoring boots at Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old signed for the Los Blancos in a €100m deal in June after enjoying one of the best campaigns of his Chelsea career last season.

Hazard netted 15 and assisted another 16 goals to his teammates in the 2018/19 Premier League season, his best-ever return of goals during his seven-year stay in London, though the Belgian hasn’t been able to replicate that form for his new club.

After a hamstring injury forced the 28-year-old to delay his competitive debut for Los Blancos, he has managed to find the back of the net just once in his first ten appearances in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League combined.

Wenger blames Hazard’s fitness for his lack of form

Dabei gilt Arsene Wenger selbst als geheilter Ex-Süchtiger. Foto: Getty Images

While speaking to beIN Sports, the former Arsenal manager has blamed the weight of the Belgian for his struggles in Real Madrid colors.

“He is not the type of guy to be [over-awed at Madrid] but I don’t know him well enough to assess that. I think it was more down to physical reasons,” remarked Arsene Wenger who once told the press that he decided against signing Hazard during his time as Arsenal manager.

“He became too heavy and what you read in the papers. If you want to make a horse lose a race, you put two kilos on a horse of 500kgs and it’s enough.

“I feel we have not seen the Hazard we know in England yet. He was not physically fit after he was injured. He is not a player who is usually impressed by anything.

But he looks to me that he doesn’t have the same confidence he had at Chelsea.”

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Belgian’s form is a huge worry for Real

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - MAY 12: Head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid CF looks on prior to the start the La Liga match between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Anoeta on May 12, 2019 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Although Cristiano Ronaldo left one year before the eventual arrival of Hazard at the club, the Belgian was signed to become a long-term replacement of the Portuguese.

After the Portuguese moved to Serie A in the summer of 2018, Real managed to score just 63 goals in the whole of the 2018/19 campaign, their lowest goalscoring tally since the 1999/2000 season.

Hazard was, therefore, signed by the La Liga giants with the hope that even if he didn’t match the abnormal number of goals Ronaldo scored for the club, the Belgian would help the club perform better in front of goal than it did last season.

However, as his performances and the abovementioned numbers have shown, the Belgian has been unable to fulfill the expectation of his new employers.

Consequently, even though Real are sitting level on points with leaders Barcelona in La Liga, Zinedine Zidane would be hoping that the Belgian finds his scoring boots to justify the transfer fee the club paid to Chelsea to acquire his services.