Zidane鈥檚 credit running out as Real falters again
Print Edition
Zinedine Zidane鈥檚 ability to manage the tempestuous Santiago Bernabeu dressing room has always been seen as one of his main strengths but with Real Madrid struggling, his good relations with his 鈥済alacticos鈥 is starting to look like a liability.
Real has slipped a remarkable 16 points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league and sits in the unfamiliar position of fourth in the standings, with its hopes of retaining the title long gone.
A place in next season鈥檚 Champions League is also far from secure as sixth-placed Villarreal, which has a strong record against Real, visits the capital on Saturday trailing the faltering European and Liga champion by only four points.
Anything but three points against Villarreal, which has taken seven off them in their last four games, would pile more pressure on Zidane despite his eight trophies in two years as Real coach.
The Frenchman was slammed in the Spanish media after the 0-3 loss at home to Barcelona and there was no let up after Sunday鈥檚 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo or Wednesday鈥檚 2-2 draw with second-tier Numancia in the Copa del Rey 鈥 even if Real won on aggregate. An article in Wednesday鈥檚 edition of newspaper El Pais berated the coach for persisting with the same team selections and tactics after disappointing results.
鈥淶idane has preferred to not anticipate risks and has bypassed any uncomfortable diagnosis, no matter how obvious,鈥 it said. 鈥淶idane has kept faith in his starting players, with (Karim) Benzema despite the anger of the supporters, with Marcelo and his intrepid adventures, with Kroos and his downward displays.鈥
The coach鈥檚 declaration on Tuesday that he would not 鈥渢hrow anyone in the mud鈥 has been taken as another sign that he is not strong enough to make the tough decisions his team need.
Zidane鈥檚 unwillingness to shake things up can be traced to Real鈥檚 limited activities in the last transfer window.
According to media reports, the club pulled out of a bid to sign French teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe to avoid upsetting Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, who have only mustered up 10 league goals between them this term. Mbappe joined Paris St Germain instead and Real weakened its attacking options by relinquishing James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata, who did not start most games last season but made invaluable contributions from the bench.
The only new arrivals were youngsters Theo Hernandez, Dani Ceballos and Diego Llorente, who have barely featured this season as Zidane鈥檚 faith in the so-called 鈥楤鈥 team that did so well last season has faded.
So too has Real鈥檚 form, and unless Zidane can whip his team into shape again, his time in charge could prove to be as short as it was successful.
Zidane confirmed that he had signed a contract extension which will keep him at Madrid until 2020.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
