Brussels, June 2 (EFE).- The national coach of Belgium, Roberto Martínez, trusted this Thursday that Belgian forward Eden Hazard, who plays for Real Madrid, can quickly "restart the machine" after his prolonged injury, in order to participate in two of the three matches that the Red Devils will play this month of June and, if possible, the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.
In an interview with the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Martínez celebrated that Hazard no longer has the osteosynthesis plate that he had in his right fibula since his injury in October 2019 and regretted that with this plate "it was impossible for him to feel good and shine."
And, asked if the forward can now recover the level he showed in the 2018 World Cup, Martínez said it is "a matter of rhythm" and that he will need "to play to feel good."
"We know that he can quickly restart the machine, even at Real Madrid where he will always have competition. He has enough experience to do it and, with us, he has a clear role," he pointed out.
In this regard, he said he hopes that Hazard can play in two of the three matches that Belgium will play in the Nations League in June (Netherlands, Poland, and Wales) and said that "if after this he can play another fifteen in the World Cup, it would be perfect."
On the other hand, he referred to the season of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who will miss the next matches with Belgium due to his pubalgia, and acknowledged that, although it is very difficult for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or, "this could change with Courtois."
"What I love in his case is the recognition of Real Madrid fans. For a foreign player, it is never easy to be so adored in Madrid, especially in a club with a long tradition of local goalkeepers, like Casillas or Buyo," he said.
Regarding his own future, he recalled that his contract with the Belgian national team lasts until the 2022 World Cup and preferred not to venture what will come next, although he declared himself open to "discuss it" with the Federation.
"Everything will depend on how things go during the Nations League and the World Cup. You know, if things go wrong in Qatar, all Belgians will want me to be fired, but if we win, I will want to stay four more years to shout in every interview that we are champions," he joked. EFE (I)