Real Madrid: Carlo Ancelotti says two out-of-favor stars could be important

It’s anyone’s guess as to what Carlo Ancelotti will do in his second stint with Real Madrid. Although some Madridistas are already questioning the hire out of concern for the club’s ability to invest in the future, it is important for fans to be patient with Ancelotti and to remember the magic this man is capable of producing as a tactician and respected man-manager.

It will be important for Ancelotti to usher in the new era and believe in young talents, especially possible No. 10 Martin Odegaard. But fans should also be intrigued by how he can help older players bounce back, such as Gareth Bale.

In fact, the Welshman was one of the players Ancelotti specifically highlighted in a positive manner at his recent press conference.

Via Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Carlo Ancelotti commented that Eden Hazard and Bale “can be so important” to Real Madrid’s success this season. This was after the three-time Champions League-winning manager called Hazard a “top player”.

Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale have the talent to rebound at Real Madrid

Hazard and Bale have been top-five players in the world at their peaks, but they have not been effective for Real Madrid in their most recent seasons. Gareth Bale was woeful for Madrid in 2019-2020 but did score double-digit goals on loan at Spurs this past season. Meanwhile, Hazard’s first season with the club started off promising, but he has been poor since suffering an injury against PSG in November 2019.

There’s no question Bale and Hazard have the talent. At their best, they could still be world-class attackers for Real Madrid. And if there’s anyone who can get them back to their best, then it is Ancelotti, whose attacking prowess and connection with veteran players are top-notch.

It will be a hard task, though, even for him. Hazard is the safer bet, only because it’s going to be very hard for Real Madrid to sell him. Florentino Perez may not want him around if he can sign Kylian Mbappe, but that’s, of course, a big “if”.

Bale’s future is cloudier due to his salary, but he has always wanted to aim for a return. And now that Ancelotti has replaced Zinedine Zidane, Bale’s only personal barrier to returning to Real Madrid with motivation has now been removed.

Ancelotti’s comments on these two are certainly noteworthy. They give both players hope. But those comments don’t guarantee anything. Let’s see how the rest of the summer develops before we make definite predictions on what will happen on the pitch in 2021-2022.