Eden Hazard has admitted that his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti has broken down and that he no longer talks to the Real Madrid manager, on the eve of the La Liga giants’ Champions League clash with Liverpool.
The Belgian left Chelsea for the Spanish outfit back in 2019, moving to the Bernabeu for an initial £88.5m in a deal which could have risen to up to £150m. But while he has won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Madrid, the 32-year-old’s time with the club has not been successful.
Boasting just seven appearances this season, Hazard's only appearance since the 2022 World Cup came in Madrid's narrow 1-0 win over fourth-tier side CP Cacereno in the Copa del Rey at the start of January. Meanwhile, he hasn't featured in La Liga since September and has recorded just 98 minutes of league action this season.
READ MORE: Liverpool to increase ticket prices for 2023/24 season
EXCLUSIVE: Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals four-word motto in Liverpool dressing room ahead of Real Madrid
His lack of game-time is nothing new, having repeatedly been troubled by injury since joining the club. As a result, he has made just 73 appearances over the past three and a half seasons and his future with the club is in doubt ahead of his contract expiring in 2024.
Yet Hazard has actually remained injury-free for the majority of this season, with Ancelotti just opting to leave him as an unused substitute - as was the case when Madrid won 5-2 at Anfield last month. And ahead of Liverpool’s trip to the Bernabeu for their round-of-16 second leg, the Belgian has admitted his relationship with his manager has completely broken down.
“There is respect between us," the 32-year-old told Belgian outlet RTBF. "But I'm not going to say that we talk to each other, because we don't talk to each other.
"But there will always be respect. Even if he doesn't make me play tomorrow... I have to have respect for a guy like Carlo Ancelotti. In what he represents for football, what he has done in his career. No problem.
"I have the right to doubt, no. It's been three months since he made me play. I doubt a little. It's up to me to show him in training that he can call on me. I probably deserve less in his eyes than others. You should ask him."
While Hazard is unlikely to enjoy much game-time against Liverpool on Wednesday night as a result, he actually boasts an impressive record against the Reds. While an unused substitute for Madrid's Champions League final victory over Jurgen Klopp's side in Paris last May, he scored seven goals from 18 appearances against them for former clubs Lille and Chelsea.
READ NEXT:
- Aurelien Tchouameni sends Liverpool £85m reminder ahead of Jude Bellingham battle
- Jurgen Klopp would never repeat Liverpool mistake that left Steven Gerrard devastated
- 'Small club' - Rio Ferdinand fires Liverpool dig and takes aim at Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness
- Liverpool coach dismisses 'fear' warning as European history awaits
Liverpool 'on alert' over Barcelona star Gavi after fresh contract dispute
