Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed the idea that his relationship with Eden Hazard is ‘cold’, following comments by the Belgian forward on released on Monday night.
Hazard had admitted that in an interview that while he respected Ancelotti, there was little relationship to speak of between the two.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s return leg against Liverpool in the Champions League, Ancelotti did not deny that they weren’t on close terms.
“The relationship is not cold. You have to value two things… Hazard has been very honest, we don’t talk a lot because… it could be a matter of character.”
“The most important thing for me, that if we don’t talk a lot, he still respects me. It’s The most important thing… just as I respect him. He doesn’t play because he has a lot of competition and a player in his position who is playing very well, which is Vinicius.”
In that, there is little discussion that the Brazilian is keeping Hazard out of the team justifiably.
While Ancelotti puts their lack of relationship down to lack of personal chemistry. For a manager that is notoriously close with his players, it is significant that there is so little relationship between them, after 21 months together. Hazard’s days at the club appear numbered.