Zinedine Zidane didn’t risk Eden Hazard against Granada because it was a ‘difficult match’

Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he didn’t want to risk bringing Eden Hazard on during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Granada because it was a ‘difficult match’.

The Belgium winger was an unused substitute in Wednesday’s clash, which saw Real go level with Atletico Madrid at the top of LaLiga thanks to goals from Casemiro and Karim Benzema on the night.

It is Los Blancos‘ sixth straight win in the league which has allowed them to close the gap to their city rivals, who have two games in hand and a better goal difference.

Eden Hazard was an unused substitute for Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Granada on Wednesday

Zinedine Zidane admits that he didn’t want to risk the Belgian because it was a ‘difficult match’

However, Zidane suffered a injury blow when Rodrygo had to be taken off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring issue, which prompted Zidane to send on Marco Asensio in his place instead of Hazard.

Hazard, who joined Real from Chelsea in a £150million deal in 2019, has already missed 46 games through injury, with the 29-year-old missing games due to a broken foot, the coronavirus and a number of muscle issues.

A thigh injury had kept the forward out for three weeks in November and now Zidane is trying to manage his return to full fitness. 

Zidane sent on Asensio instead of Hazard in place of Rodrygo, who left the pitch on a stretcher

‘I didn’t think it was right [to bring on Hazard] because it was a difficult match,’ Zidane said in his post-match press conference.

‘We need to do such things at the right time. I didn’t want to risk him again. Now, we rest and little by little he’ll return to the team.’

Despite Rodrygo’s injury, Zidane was delighted with how his team performed on Wednesday.

Casemiro broke the deadlock for Real Madrid on Wednesday, who have won six in-a-row

Karim Benzema (left) celebrates after scoring Real’s second goal and wrapping up the points

‘The team worked really hard tonight, the game was very complicated,’ Zidane said.

‘Granada pressed us well and made things difficult. In the second half we improved. I’m happy for the players and their sixth win in a row, it’s not easy.’

‘We know that Casemiro can attack the box and defensively we already know his presence. The goal was beautiful, it comes from the second line. I’m happy for him and for the team.’