Hazard fit to play but I prefer other players – Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said Eden Hazard’s absence from Real Madrid starting XI is down to his preference for other players and not injury.

Eden Hazard was an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Barcelona in the Clasico played on Sunday.

The former Chelsea player has started just four of the seven La Liga matches in which he has featured this season and played in just one of their three Champions League matches.

His absence in Real Madrid’s biggest game of the season so far made the reporters present at the Real Madrid v Osasuna pre-match conference to ask about the Belgian star.

“He can play 4-3-3 on the left or 4-4-2 above or behind the striker. He is ready to play, but the problem is that there is a coach who prefers another player,” says Ancelotti.

“He does not have a star status at Madrid because he has had many injuries and little by little he will have his best version.

“I am sure that this season we will see his best version and that he will play more than he is doing now.

“Hazard has it. Everything: quality, motivation. He has to endure, what happens is that sometimes the coach prefers other players.”

Eden Hazard, 30, has only played a total of 51 games for Real Madrid in more than two years.

This season, he has managed just one assist in his eight appearances for Real Madrid.