Real Madrid: Pros and cons of Eden Hazard playing in a free role

THE CONS

1) A less-dominant Real Madrid midfield

Although there’s an upside to Eden Hazard featuring in a free role, it results in Real Madrid going ahead with a double-pivot. With the abundance of world-class midfielders, playing Hazard in midfield (as a #10) leaves just two spots up for grabs.

While this can work when one or two crucial midfielders are out injured (for example, Toni Kroos, who has just returned to the training with the team), it usually means sacrificing someone like a Luka Modrić or a Toni Kroos, who are more influential when playing in a midfield three.

Much of Real Madrid’s success since Ancelotti first took over the reigns of the team ahead of 2013-14 was centered on having a strong, three-man midfield that could do it all. The holy trinity of Kroos-Modrić-Casemiro led Real Madrid to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles and two leagues under Zinedine Zidane.

That’s not to say that having Hazard function as an attacking midfielder cannot bring success to the club, I just believe having three natural central midfielders provides Real Madrid a better shot at dominating the proceedings against much tougher opponents.

2) Playing Fede Valverde out of position

Fede Valverde is adept at playing both as a box-to-box central midfielder, or out wide as a right midfielder/winger. However, Fede’s strongest suit remains playing as a central midfielder. That is where he is at his dominant best.

We saw Ancelotti go ahead with Fede on the right-hand side of the attack against Valencia because Hazard played in a central, free-roaming role. He made good runs and his pace complemented the position he was playing in.

Everything said and done, it’s not fair to Fede when he is played out of position. You see, the Uruguayan has put on some of his best displays in the Royal White while playing as a box-to-box midfielder, something he excels at unlike any other player in the world. It takes just one lung-bursting run from Fede Valverde to unlock the channels and pin the opposition defence higher up the pitch, creating space not just for himself with his blistering acceleration, but also for the other forwards.

While Real Madrid gain a lot with Hazard in a free-roaming role, Real Madrid lose a lot more with Fede playing in an unnatural position.

3) Lesser minutes for more naturally-suited playmakers

Marco Asensio announced his arrival as a free-roaming midfielder with a splendid hattrick against Mallorca last night, his first-ever for Real Madrid. Once Asensio was subbed off to a standing ovation from the Bernabéu faithful, Isco rolled back the years with a disco-dazzling performance, ending the night with a goal, 5 completed dribbles (most by anyone on the pitch), and the captain’s armband.

While it’s easy to forget these players when the most important Real Madrid figures are talked about, let’s give credit where it’s due. Asensio scored five league goals last season. Just five. And all of them coming by playing as a forward. On Wednesday night, under a gung-ho Carletto system, Asensio scored a hattrick as a midfielder. Yes, as a midfielder.

Isco, who hadn’t scored a goal for Real Madrid since the Round of 16 1st Leg against Manchester City in February 2020, had a memorable outing off the bench. To his credit, he has performed much like his older self whenever he has been on the pitch.

Hazard’s presence as their competition for the free-roaming spot does sound exciting, but it also means lesser minutes for one or two players out of the trio. And at the moment, none of them deserve to have a fringe role within the squad. This is something that can be written about in detail in another piece, but I’ll just leave it here for now.