Eden Hazard has a unique role on the right side of Real Madrid’s attack

Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard did not start against Inter Milan this past Wednesday night due to a potential knee injury, based on comments made by manager Carlo Ancelotti prior to Sunday’s LaLiga encounter with Valencia. When the Belgian is able to play, Ancelotti has shown that he takes a different view of the player than most did before the 2021-22 season started.

Under Zinedine Zidane, Hazard was almost exclusively a left winger in a 4-3-3 when he was healthy. His effectiveness varied, though he was able to pop up with the occasional goal last season. Before his initial injury against PSG in the Fall of 2019, Hazard was a real ball-carrying presence, linking with striker Karim Benzema to great effect.

In 2021-22, Ancelotti has realized that Hazard can no longer be a winger. He is a tremendous liability to the defensive structure, as the injuries and wear-and-tear of age have taken a toll on his ability to track back effectively. On the ball, Hazard still has the shakes and agility, but he cannot explode past players time after time. He is no Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo Goes at this stage.

Vini’s own rise this season with four goals in four LaLiga matches has made Hazard an afterthought at his preferred position on the left-hand side. The Brazilian youngster has clearly won the job.

Real Madrid are trying to get Eden Hazard, Vinicius Junior, and Karim Benzema on the pitch together

Yet Ancelotti still has to find a place for the 100 million euro man. Last weekend, he did, starting Hazard as something between a right-sided forward in a 4-4-2 and a right winger in a 4-3-3.

Basically, Ancelotti is looking for a way to play all three of Vinicius, Hazard, and superstar striker Karim Benzema at the same time. With Gareth Bale injured, Hazard’s potential opportunities are even higher, such as in the role he played last weekend in a 5-2 win over Celta Vigo.

Hazard did not score against Celta and has never really been a scoring threat for Real Madrid. But just as he did in the first couple of matches of the campaign, Hazard provided valuable passing in short areas, small movements, and other linking plays to help the cohesion of the attack. As much as he can hurt the team defensively on the wing, he can help the team 10-fold that amount as a more central attacking facilitator.

Ancelotti has been quick to react to Hazard’s differing skill-set. Instead of looking at the injuries as a negative, Ancelotti is seeing the ways in which Hazard’s experience, technical qualities, and creative genius can be harnessed to help Benzema and Vini score even more goals.

Eden Hazard is indeed playing more centrally for Real Madrid

Against Alaves and Levante, Eden Hazard had both multiple dribbles completed and multiple key passes, per WhoScored.com, including an assist in the opener at the Mendizorroza. He drew four fouls against Celta. In three of his four starts, Hazard has completed over 90 percent of his passes, including a 96.2 completion percentage at the Santiago Bernabeu in the most recent league fixture.

Therefore, when you see Hazard listed on the right-hand side of the Real Madrid attack, know that his role is indeed closer to that of a 10 than a winger. Hazard is transitioning into being a more central playmaker.

So even as he may seem to get starts as a right winger in a 4-3-3, understand Ancelotti’s attacking setup will be more fluid. Dani Carvajal and Fede Valverde have the width and athleticism to get high up the pitch, allowing Hazard to tuck in and provide for Karim and Vini.

Yes, this setup puts stress on Fede and Dani, but they are pros at this. And it helps accentuate Hazard’s strengths while mitigating the ways in which his deficiencies could slow the team in transition, particularly defensively.