Martinez Optimistic About Hazard’s EURO 2020 Chances Despite Injury Woes
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez says he is optimistic about Eden Hazard’s chances of featuring at this summer’s European Championships despite his injury troubles at Real Madrid.
Hazard returned to the Real Madrid squad after a seven-game absence in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Elche at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, playing the final 15 minutes but reported to training on Monday with a muscle injury and missed the Champions League win over Atalanta on Tuesday.
Hazard’s latest injury at Los Blancos saw him miss out on the Belgium squad for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Wales, Czech Republic and Belarus later this month.
The 30-year-old is set for another spell on the treatment table and questions are being asked whether he will be fit in time for the rescheduled EUROS.
But Martinez is optimistic his captain will be fit in time to take his place in the team by the time the EUROS come around.
"I think there is still a long, long, long, long way to go [to the Euros],” Martinez told a news conference.
"Rather than setting a timeline, all that matters is to measure every day and to see that Eden is on the right path to get back to full fitness.
"It would be wrong and it would be gambling, by anyone, to imagine if Eden will be fully fit or not.
"I feel this situation can be solved a lot earlier than the Euros, but only when Eden goes from day to day will we see the final answer.
"Knowing Eden, what we're dealing with is a player that has never been injured in his career. This is a real shock, something new. There is a lot of uncertainty around that.
"But in terms of the injury, I feel very positive that we can get to see the best Eden Hazard well before the Euros."
Injuries and a positive coronavirus test has restricted Hazard to just 15 appearances in his second season in the Spanish capital
