Ancelotti: Bale and Hazard may feature in the UCL final

Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final showdown between Real Madrid and Liverpool set for the Parc De Princes on the 28th of May 2022, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Belgian forward Eden Hazard and Welsh winger Gareth Bale could both play a role in the final on Saturday.

Ancellotti made this known in a presser on Tuesday in a revelation that will surprise a lot of Real Madrid fans, knowing fully well that both players have played a limited role in the club’s run to the La Liga title and UEFA Champions League final this season.

Hazard only played 18 La Liga games for Real Madrid this season without scoring a goal, while he had a single goal in the Copa Del Rey matches. His UEFA Champions League statistics are also not impressive as he had just three matches in their run to the final without a goal.

Hazard’s last game for Real Madrid was a 27-minute cameo in a 1-1 draw against Cadiz. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale’s last action for Real Madrid was against Getafe on the 9th of April in a 2-0 victory.

The Welsh forward has a single goal in five La Liga games for Real Madrid and two games in the UEFA Champions League this season.

However, while Bale is expected to return to the Premier League once he leaves Real Madrid this summer, Eden Hazard’s stay at Real Madrid is in the balance.

Nevertheless, it seems both players are in the plans of Ancellotti for Saturday’s final.

“Hazard is training well. He can play in the final. Bale can play too. Everyone is motivated. Everyone can participate, whether it’s one minute or 10. It’s positive that everyone can do it. The team is fine.” Ancelotti said.

Real Madrid won the La Liga and will hope to complete a double by winning their 14th UEFA Champions League title when they face a treble-winning Liverpool side.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu