Arsene Wenger says it is unrealistic to expect Eden Hazard to replicate Cristiano Ronaldo’s output at Real Madrid and feels the Belgian winger is still not fully fit.
Hazard finally opened his account for Real last weekend, scoring against Granada, though has struggled to show his Chelsea form for the Spanish giants amid criticism that he is overweight and unfit.
While former Arsenal boss Wenger concedes Hazard is not at his physical best yet, he feels it is unfair to judge the Belgian – who is more of a creator – against Ronaldo.
‘He will be the answer but not for [replacing] Ronaldo, that is for sure,’ Wenger told beIN SPORTS.
‘Eden Hazard is an exceptional player to create chances, to sometimes finish when it’s demanded in big games he can do that, because he can take that responsibility. He isn’t scared of anybody.
‘I don’t think at the moment in Madrid they have seen the real Eden Hazard, you know?
‘He doesn’t look as sharp physically as he can be and that’s why I believe that they will discover the real Hazard.
‘But he will not score 50 goals per year because that’s not the way he plays football. But he will provide chances and be creative.
‘They need another goalscorer in Madrid with Karim Benzema, because Benzema is as well 32. If he has somebody else, younger, around him who can score goals, this trio can work very well.’
Hazard has only turned out four times for Real this season, though Zinedine Zidane’s men are unbeaten through the first eight games of the season and top La Liga on 18 points, with Benzema netting six times.
