Zidane tips Hazard for ‘great future’ at Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes Eden Hazard will make a huge difference for his side as the Belgian prepares to start for the first time this season in today’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Hazard was signed for 100mn euros ($110mn) from Chelsea in the summer as the spearhead of a new-look Real, but a thigh injury prevented him from making his first appearance until last weekend. After coming off the bench in a 3-2 win over Levante in La Liga, the 28-year-old looks likely to play a key role in the French capital at a venue he knows well from the early years of his career at Lille.
“He knows where he is, we are an ambitious club. We know we have to play well all the time and he has a strong enough character to deal with that,” said Zidane at a press conference at the Parc des Princes. “He is going to be an important player for Real Madrid and he is going to have a great future.”
After winning the Champions League three years running in Zidane’s first spell as coach at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real are now eager to make amends for their defeat at the hands of Ajax in the last 16 last season.
Both sides are expected to qualify from Group A, which also contains Turkish champions Galatasaray and the Belgian former European Cup runners-up, Club Brugge. Today’s game will nevertheless provide an indication of where these two clubs currently stand, even if there are key absences in both ranks.
Sergio Ramos and Nacho are both suspended and Marcelo is injured, leaving Zidane without a trio of defenders. Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric has a groin injury. “A lot is expected of both teams but it is just the start of the season. We will definitely improve and we have to, in every area. It is the same for Paris,” added Zidane.