Zinedine Zidane has described the latest injury to Eden Hazard as inexplicable as frustrations build over the Real Madrid star s fitness.
The Belgium international returned from a six-game absence in LaLiga as a second-half substitute in Madrid s 2-1 win over Elche on Saturday.
It had been hoped the 30-year-old would be ready for more game time on Tuesday, when Madrid host Atalanta in the Champions League last-16 second leg.
However, Hazard had to miss training on Monday due to a damaged hip flexor, and head coach Zidane confirmed he would not be in the squad for the visit of the Serie A side.
He s not going to be fit. We re going to put something out shortly [on the injury]; I can t say any more, Zidane said.
Something is going on. These are things I can t explain. I want to be positive and think it s going to be something small.
They [the fans] have to wait. We know what sort of player he is. They want to see him, of course, just like everyone else here. But now, they can t.
1 Eden Hazard is the first player to score a penalty shot in , without being Cristiano Ronaldo or Sergio Ramos, since Kaka in september 2009 vs Marseille. Braids
— OptaJose (@OptaJose)
Hazard has played just 14 times this season as injuries continue to blight his time in the Spanish capital.
The €100million signing from Chelsea has only started 29 matches in all competitions since joining two years ago and has not completed 90 minutes in a single game since November 2019.
There are four questions on Hazard – I can t say any more, Zidane replied when pressed about the player s problems.
We want to help him. I don t know if it will be with me or someone else, because he has a long contract, but I want with all my strength for him to be seen as the player he is. Sooner or later, he ll arrive.
Hazard is one of a number of fitness concerns Madrid have had this term but Zidane refused to pin any blame on the club s medical department.
I don t think there s a problem [with the department]. We have very competent people here who are on top of the players, he said.
We re going to find out what is happening, but at the moment, it s inexplicable. We ve talked about pre-season, the accumulation of matches, also in the head.
We re going to try to recover [the injured players]. Now, we have fewer injuries. Enough of them have returned.
Striker Karim Benzema, meanwhile, was left saddened by Hazard s latest setback, saying: He hasn t had much luck since he came here.
I m sad because he s a top player. He s sad because he wants to show that he s a world star. We need him.
