Zinedine Zidane has confirmed Eden Hazard is in line for a reunion with Chelsea, with Real Madrid also expecting to have Toni Kroos at their disposal for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.
Real have been ravaged by injuries this season, with the Belgian playmaker among those to have spent more time on the sidelines than anyone in the Spanish capital would have liked.
Hazard did, however, get 15 minutes off the bench in the Spanish League meeting with Real Betis on Saturday, and is now in contention to face Chelsea. Zidane will be without injured defenders Sergio Ramos, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy as well as midfielder Federico Valverde, who is self isolating following a positive Covid-19 test, for the visit of the Premier League side.
Eden Hazard. Twitter
Zidane told reporters at his pre-match news conference: “I don’t see Eden having any doubts. He looked very good on the field the other day. That was the most important, not feeling anything from his old problems. Now he is good, and now to push on. We are happy to have him with us, he will bring a lot to the team.”
Germany international midfielder Toni Kroos has been out of action since the second leg of their Champions League quarter final tie with Liverpool on April 14, but is now ready to step back in.
Focus on match
Zidane said on he was not thinking about any sanctions against the club from Uefa in the wake of the European Super League announcement last week.
The breakaway league involving 12 of Europe’s major clubs collapsed within three days of its announcement amid a fierce backlash from fans, governing bodies and politicians.
Real president Florentino Perez was named as chairman of the project and appears to have been the driving force behind the league, which ended in embarrassment as most clubs withdrew.
There has been talk of the founding teams being punished by Uefa for their actions but Zidane shrugged off the notion that Real could be banned from European competition.
“It’s absurd to think that we won’t be in the Champions League next season,” he said.
“A lot has been said, but all we can do is focus on tomorrow’s game. We’re not in control of the rest so there’s always going to be talk, but for me of course you want to see Madrid in next season’s Champions League.
“The president (Perez) knows what I feel (about the Super League). We’re just focused on tomorrow’s game.”
