Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has opened up on his relationship with Eden Hazard after the Belgian forward admitted they don't speak.
In an interview with broadcaster RTBF this week, Hazard expressed his desire to stay at the Bernabeu beyond the summer window, saying he wants to “show that I can still do it” at the top level.
The 32-year-old, who is said to earn £416,000-a-week at the Spanish club, has struggled to break into the Los Blancos first-team plans of late. In fact, Hazard has made just seven appearances for Los Blancos this season.
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But despite a lack of minutes, the former Chelsea winger says he "respects" Madrid manager Ancelotti, although he admitted they no longer speak.
Hazard said: “I would like to stay. I’ve always said that. I hope to play and to show that I can still do it.
“People have doubts, that’s normal, I understand. But for me, I’m still here next year. You never know, but a transfer is not in my plan.
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“There’s respect between Ancelotti and I. But I’m not going to say we talk to each other, because we don’t. But there will always be respect.
“I have to have respect [for] a guy like Ancelotti. For what he represents for football, and for what he’s done in his career.”
Now, ahead of Madrid's Champions League last-16 clash with Liverpool, the Italian has come out and said his relationship with Hazard is "not cold".
Ancelotti: “Hazard statement? He has been honest, we don’t talk much but the most important is to respect each other” ⚪️🇧🇪 #RealMadrid “I can guarantee that he can still help us at Real Madrid, for sure. I thank Eden as he’s always been respectful”.
After admitting they don't talk much, Ancelotti went on to claim the most important factor is the respect they have for each other.
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“The relationship is not cold," Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference.
"Look, you have to appreciate both things: Hazard has been honest, because I don’t talk to him much, it’s the truth. Talking is a question of character, you feel more comfortable with some people than with others.
"But the most important thing for me is that if we don’t talk a lot and if he doesn’t play a lot, he respects me, just like I respect him in the same exact way."
Ancelotti went on to confirm that the form of other players, such as Vinicius, has kept Hazard out of the team.
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He added: "Why doesn’t he play? Because there is a lot of competition and in his position there is a player who is contributing a lot, which is Vinicius.”
Featured Image Credit: Real Madrid/YouTube - AlamyTopics: Eden Hazard, Real Madrid, Belgium, Carlo Ancelotti, La Liga