Manager Zinedine Zidane has compared Eden Hazard to the signing of a new player expressing his enthusiasm for the Belgian’s return. Hazard arrived at Santiago Bernabéu on an £89million transfer from Chelsea over the summer. However, an ankle injury has kept him on the sidelines since his last game played in November. The 29-year-old is set to return to action after passing his fitness.
“We know what he brings to the team, that’s why we signed him, and now is the right time for him to return,” said Zidane.
“I’m very happy that he has returned. After three months out it’s like we have signed a new player. We had to be careful with him, give him a little more time and not hurry him back, but he’ll be with us tomorrow. He’s ready to play ” the La Liga giants boss added.
The La Liga giants are currently on top of the table having won five successive league games. Hazard’s return is timely as he is a key man in their squad who will be needed when Real face Manchester City in just over a week. City will travel to Real Madrid for their first leg of their last-16 tie of the UEFA Champions League on 26 February.
The Premier League side has been thrown into limbo with many expressing shock and split on emotions due to Friday’s announcement from UEFA banning Manchester City. City was reportedly banned from the competition for two years for Financial Fair Play breaches.
However, Zidane does not believe the news will affect the team’s performance when they meet for the first and second leg on February 26 and March 10 respectively.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. With respect to the sanction, I don’t want to get into that matter. It’s not my job,” he added.
“What I’m going to say to you is to talk about football when we play against them. They are a very competitive team, very strong and this isn’t going to change” Zidane added.
Real Madrid will face Celta on Sunday with Real expected to win the match. Celta is currently at the bottom of the table despite their shocking win over Sevilla last weekend. Though their only win in the last five matches in all competitions, Celta coach says the will shock again by beating the league leaders.
“We go to the Bernabeu with enthusiasm, with confidence and believing that we can win,” he told a press conference.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has come out to express his fears of being sacked if Manchester City fails to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League. Though the chances of City dismissing Guardiola is highly unlikely, anything is possible in today’s football world.
Guardiola has been able to help City set an outstanding record in which he has won five major trophies. Though two Premier League titles have been overlooked since he has failed to take the club past the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the last three seasons.
