Messi: It's very difficult to replace Ronaldo but Hazard is also a great player

Barcelona host Real Madrid on Wednesday in this 

season's first Clasico and Messi gives his comments on 

Eden Hazard.

In an interview for MARCA, Messi discussed the 

upcoming derby and Eden Hazard can fill in Cristiano 

Ronaldo's boots.

Q. Do you think Eden Hazard has the ability to cover the 

void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and become

 Real-Madrid's superstar?

A. Hazard has a lot of quality. He is a different football 

player who can unbalance [defences], but I think he is 

different to Cristiano, with different characteristics. It is 

very difficult to replace Cristiano, but Hazard is also a 

great player.

Q. What do you think when you see that some 

teammates who were always important in the team, or 

including yourself sometimes, start on the bench, rest or 

even get replaced in the middle of the game?

A. Actually I think we are very important. There are times 

when it's another teammate's turn to play and I think you 

have to take it in the best possible way, being aware that 

the most important thing is that everyone in the 

dressing 

room feels important, because we need everyone 

motivated to achieve the targets.