Heaven opened up for Eden Hazard in London when Chelsea decided to remove Antonio Conte in July 2018. The Italian spent two years on the bench at Stamford Bridge in which the Belgian came to lose the pleasure of playing. With him he conquered a League and an FA Cup, but Conte's rigid and repetitive training methods drowned the Madridista so much that he publicly raised his voice. There was one day in particular when Hazard did not suppress his disgust at his coach's approach. It was on March 4, 2018, in a 1-0 loss against Manchester City.
Chelsea were far behind at all times, and not even the deficit on the scoreboard made Conte change his plan. Disenchanted, Hazard, who returned to play as a forward that day despite the fact that it is a position in which he has never felt comfortable, exploded and pointed out to Conte: “If Giroud or Morata had played up, it would be easier to win the balls long. . With me it is a bit more complicated, although I tried to do my best. You leave the field with the feeling that you ran, but that you did not play a football game. It is a pity. Even if we had played for three hours, I wouldn't have touched the ball “.
This complaint made headlines and television debates in England. The interest of Real Madrid and Zidane hovered in the atmosphere and Hazard's criticism fueled speculation about a “scared” by Chelsea. One of the clearest was Carragher, former Liverpool player, who just after the match against City, stated: “I have no doubt that at the end of the game, as soon as he got on the bus or was home, he called his agent to say, 'get me out of here.' He must have been frustrated thinking: 'I should play for this team, they have the ball. I should play on a team that dominated the game. ” Tony cascarinoA former Chelsea player, he went further: “If Hazard has the ambition to be the best player in the world, then there is no way he is going to keep asking him to play as a striker in League One. His idol is Zidane. If Conte stays as Chelsea manager, why would Hazard stay if Real Madrid calls him? “
Madrid, Zidane and the ball
But Conte ended the settlement under his arm and Hazard stayed one more season at Chelsea until on June 7, 2019, he fulfilled his dream and his signing for Real Madrid became official. His landing in Valdebebas and his first contact with the Zidane method was a breath of fresh air for his football. The prominence of the ball in training was the best news for the Belgian, who felt as if his hands had been untied and his mind freed. He regained the lost pleasure, as he confessed in an interview in Sport / Foot Magazine in which he also threw a pinch at Conte: “Our training is always with the ball. The pleasure of playing, above all. The movements, the games … When you meet Italian coaches, like me, you have much less pleasure. It is more framed, repetitive. The pleasure you find in victory. I spent three years with Italian coaches. Rediscovering this pleasure does me good. “
Zidane gives Hazard wings. Now all that remains is for the Belgian to fly. Injuries marred his first year at Real Madrid and the start of the second, but Last Saturday against Huesca (4-1), in his first game as a starter this season, he was once again decisive and remembered the genius of Chelsea and the Belgian team with a goal and actively participating in the same. She had been in casts and stretchers for so long that many had forgotten her differential talent. A talent that Madrid needs to regain the hierarchy in Europe, starting with games like those of this Tuesday against Inter of a Conte that does not bring good memories to 7 White.