Real Madrid star Eden Hazard has admitted he was surprised that ex-Belgium boss Roberto Martinez opted to play him ahead of Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard during the World Cup.
Trossard, who joined the Gunners a few weeks after the World Cup ended, started just one match in Qatar, something that surprised Hazard considering the excellent season the former was having. When asked if he felt hurt by people suggesting his time with the national team was coming to an end, Hazard told RTBF, via The Metro: "Not at all.
"We were talking about the name of Leandro Trossard to replace me, he was having a good season. Even I wondered why I had to play when he had to go on the bench. It’s normal for people to think that.
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"Especially after the game against Egypt, where we don’t play a good game, where I don’t play a good game." Hazard, who played for Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea for seven years, then compared his situation to footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Madrid forward added: "Cristiano Ronaldo did not play the last matches of the World Cup with Portugal, and yet it is Cristiano with Portugal, it is even more than Eden with Belgium. It is football, there are young people who grow, who want to take the place.
"When I started at the age of 16 with Lille, I took the place of Michel Bastos or someone else. Players who were there, in place. It’s normal, it’s football."
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