Belgium coach: “I saw Hazard enjoying football again when we faced Finland”

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez talked to the media in today’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s crucial match against Portugal. Martinez was asked about Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard and explained how the attacker has improved since the tournament started a few weeks ago.

“I saw Hazard enjoying football again when we faced Finland, and that didn’t happen in a very long time. When Eden is happy, we’re a much better team,” said Martinez.

The Spanish coach even admitted that he was worried about his player.

“I must admit that I was worried because he wasn’t enjoying life. His body wasn’t reacting the way it had been reacting for the last 15 years and that’s tough. When you’re an injury-prone player you’re used to have that kind of body which might fall apart at any moment, but that’s not Eden. He never had issues with injuries in France and he only missed 20 games over eight seasons in the Premier League, which is one of the most physically-demanding leagues in the entire world,” he explained.

Martinez went on and revealed that Hazard was very sad a few months ago.

“He was very sad and depressed when I saw him last March, and from that moment I think he started working with a clear goal in mind, which is to be happy. I think we got lucky with the timing of his recovery,” concluded Martinez.