Jose Mourinho foresaw Eden Hazard’s physical issues when they worked together at Chelsea.
Eden Hazard’s bad luck seems to be far away from running out after the player sustained his tenth injury in a year and a half at Real Madrid. The Belgian recently suffered another muscle injury that will keep him sidelined for at least four to six weeks.
As Hazard begins another road to recovery, it has become clear that his injury troubles will keep preventing the star from showing his full potential at Madrid. In fact, one of Belgium’s national team doctors has shown his concern for the 30-year-old’s wellbeing.
“The injuries at this stage of the season are not worrisome for the Euros, it is even a rest period. But with Eden it is different. It’s another relapse, a chronic situation that always goes wrong in the end. First the ankle, then the muscle injuries. It’s all very unpleasant.
“Eden is in a vicious circle and it’s not easy to get out of it. It’s disturbing what happens with musculature. A footballer must be able to kick, turn, jump, all at high speed. And, of course, this is more difficult during rehabilitation.”
Doctor Kristof Sas wasn’t the only one concerned with Hazard’s physique.
Since his arrival at Real back in 2019, Eden Hazard has missed a total of 43 matches due to various injuries. In order to give some perspective, the Belgium international has only played 35 games for the club. However, this wasn’t always the case, as his situation at Chelsea was quite different. Hazard’s physical issues only kept him out of 20 matches during his seven years in London.
Although many have wondered why Hazard’s career has taken a darker turn, it looks like Mourinho could’ve had the answer all along. Back in 2015, Tottenham’s current manager predicted that the rough challenges the player endured would one day take their toll.
“I think that people who love football in this country must be in love with Eden Hazard, but I think that considering the way he is being punished by opponents match after match, and he’s not being protected by referees, then maybe one day we will no longer have Eden Hazard,” Mourinho foresaw.
“On Hazard, there are one, two, three, four, five, ten hard fouls each match. They kick him, and then there are even more kicks.”