- Back to Home »
- Manchester United target Gareth Bale backed to WIN duel with Chelsea star Eden Hazard
Click & Close Ads Click & Close Ads Chelsea star Hazard scored the winner on Sunday as Belgium beat France 4-3 to warm up for Friday night's Euro 2016 qualifying clash against Wales. Dragons boss Chris Coleman was in the crowd that was wowed by Hazard and Co in Bordeaux. But he believes that in Real Madrid star Bale he has just the man in his ranks to leave the Premier League's player of the year in the shade. "Hazard is good enough that it doesn't matter how hard we work tactically on trying to stop him, because he has a magic wand in his pocket and he can make something happen," said Coleman. "We can prepare, but it doesn't matter what we do if he decides in any given moment he can do something magical.There are very few players like that on the planet - but the good news is that we have also got one in our team." Belgium are ranked second in the world behind Germany but Wales scored a psychological blow against them in November by shutting them out in Brussels. Coleman will remind him that his 13 goals and nine assists for Real this season in 31 games compares favourably with the 14 goals and nine assists from Hazard in 38 Premier League appearances. Click & Close Ads Click & Close Ads But while Hazard swept the board with the end of season awards, Bale has been fighting for his future at the Bernabeu. Bale will win his 50th cap in Cardiff on Friday.Coleman said: "When you look at the stats they are very similar, and yet Gareth has had heavy criticism in Spain while Hazard was voted the best player here. "When you come away with your country it is a different challenge, and Bale loves playing for his country. It means a lot to him. "He senses as well that we have a chance to do something special. If he performs and Aaron (Ramsey) performs we always have a chance of winning. "If they are not at their best they still have the capabilities to win a game. "If you combine that with their desire to play for Wales, and they both know there are other good players in the squad, everyone is excited. I think, for Bale, he wants to play for Wales, whatever is happening in Madrid. "When we played in Belgium, Eden Hazard had so much more of the ball than Gareth.That was how we set up, and Bale still nearly won it for us and he stopped one on the line. His input was just the same.Click & Close Ads Click & Close Ads Coleman believes Bale will bounce back and has no interest in leaving Real, despite interest from Manchester United. "At Madrid you have to win and with style," he said. "They are not called Galacticos for nothing - they expect excellence. "If you don't win or if they think you are not performing it's tough, but then Gareth knew that before he walked in. I don't see him screaming that he wants to leave. It is the other way. "People underestimate Gareth - he has a real determination inside him to progress and show people that either they are right to class him as one of the best, or to prove himself to people who doubt him. Click & Close Ads Click & Close Ads "He has a real inner determination to produce. I don't think he will go anywhere.