Roberto Martinez: “Hazard will have to treat his ankle before and after games for rest of his career”

Roberto Martinez was asked about Eden Hazard’s recovery and his limited impact to Real Madrid’s successful league campaign when talking to the press ahead of Belgium’s UEFA Nations League matches against Denmark and Iceland.

“The ankle is fine, Hazard played without pain against City,” Martinez told reporters. “He will need to control it his entire career, with treatments both before and after the games.”

The injury, sustained from a tackle from fellow countrymen Thomas Meunir, had held Hazard back for close to the entirety of the 2019-2020 season. Despite this, Roberto Martinez was quick to refute those claims, pointing to Hazard’s role in the dressing room and in pivotal matches, “Hazard had a great role in the Madrid’s league, deciding the matches against Eibar and Valencia, and greatly impacting the mood of the group. If he had not returned, Real would not have been champions.”

Eden Hazard will be turning 30 this year and will have to manage his ankle injury in order to resurrect his Real Madrid career. Hazard himself has said that his second season will be the season to judge him by — ankle injury or no ankle injury, the Belgian is expected to perform in the new campaign.