Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has revealed Eden Hazard is doing extra work to ensure he stays healthy while he's out of Real Madrid's regular starting XI.
The former Chelsea winger has struggled with form and injuries since swapping Stamford Bridge for the Bernabeu in 2019, though this season he has tumbled down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti, who has preferred Vinicius Junior in his place.
Hazard has started just four La Liga games so far this season, but Martinez has claimed it is not something that is worrying the national set-up just yet.
“It’s an unusual situation. We hoped it wouldn’t go like this,” he told HLN. “But this is football. I have seen that he is medically well. He is completely in form.
“We have a good relationship with Real Madrid. We know that he does extra work to maintain the best form possible.
“Eden wants to do as much as possible to reach his highest level.”
Hazard is Belgium's captain and has been included in their squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with Belgium five points clear at the top of Group E with games against Estonia and Wales on the horizon.
Martinez added: “This international period is a chance to play. It’s not an ideal situation. But it won’t worry us until Eden stops enjoying football. At the moment, it is not the case. I think he can end the season strongly.”
Real boss Ancelotti admitted recently that Hazard is unhappy with his limited role at the club so far this season.
He said: “He is not happy because he is a player who has quality, who is training well, is serious and deserves to have minutes for what he is doing and he will have them if he continues like this. The important thing is that he is switched on.
"As I said, I am sorry because it is quite easy to put a player on the bench who is not a professional in training, but he is very professional and he will have minutes. I said there will be minutes. At first I have to think about it. I have a day to think about the lineup."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Roberto Martinez claims Eden Hazard wants to reach 'highest level' again.
Source: www.90min.com