Boost for Tuchel as Real Madrid confirm this key attacking star will not play against Chelsea

A Stamford Bridge Too Far

·21 April 2021

Boost for Tuchel as Real Madrid confirm this key attacking star will not play against Chelsea

Eden Hazard to not feature against Chelsea, Real Madrid confirm

According to Football.london, Eden Hazard could miss out on facing Chelsea as Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane confirmed. In an earlier interview, Zidane was hopeful that he would have Hazard back from injury for the Champions League semi-finals against Chelsea.

Hazard lit up Stamford Bridge during his 7-year stay at the club since he joined from Lille in 2012. And he got his dream move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 for an eye-watering £89m. But that has not worked out for him so far. The Belgian winger was troubled by a serious ankle injury in his first season and fitness issues have continued to haunt him during this campaign as well.

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Injuries have restricted him to just 14 appearances in all competitions this season. Zidane has been without Hazard for just over a month now, with Los Blancos inching closer to La Liga and UEFA Champions League glory in that time.

Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s game against Cadiz, Zidane had some bad news for Chelsea as well as Real Madrid fans.

“Hazard will not be there and Toni Kroos will not be there. If Hazard is not there, it is because he is not one hundred percent. The important thing is that when he returns he is one hundred percent. Eden’s feeling is not the same and you have to be very attentive. I just said it, it’s a different case. Your feeling is the most important.”

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Hazard has been out of action since a 15-minute cameo against Elche in mid-March. While Real haven’t felt his absence due to the likes of Vinicius Jr. stepping up, it would have been handy to have him back for such a crucial tie. Even Chelsea fans would be disappointed now with this news as they would have been hoping to see their former talisman play against them.