Zidane takes up Real challenge
Print Edition
ZINEDINE Zidane promised yesterday to make up for his lack of coaching experience by inspiring Real Madrid to play with the same attacking flair he displayed during his playing career.
“Football with a personal touch, with attacking play, is what I’ll aim for,” the former France great said at a news conference, a day after replacing the fired Rafael Benitez as Real coach.
“A coach is never really prepared, least of all one who hasn’t coached before. But I am motivated, excited, and that is going to ensure that things go well,” he said. “I always believe that it’s important to play attractive, but balanced football, and I am going to work to get that on the pitch.”
The 43-year-old Zidane, a three-time FIFA world player of the year and former Real star, had coached Real’s reserve team in Spain’s third division for the past year and a half. He agreed to the promotion to coach the first team for the rest of this season, plus two more years.
Zidane’s first game as coach will be on Saturday against Deportivo la Coruna in the Spanish league. Real trails leader Atletico Madrid by four points and is two points behind defending champion Barcelona, which has a game in hand.
Zidane said he would continue to play Real’s three star forwards — Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Gareth Bale — although the coach said Bale was not happy with Benitez’s firing. “I understand Gareth may be upset at Rafa’s departure, but he will be treated with affection. He’s a fundamental player,” said Zidane who previously was assistant to Real coaches Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. He served under Ancelotti during Real’s Champions League title run in 2014.
Spanish talk radio didn’t wait long to start making hopeful comparisons between Zidane and former Barcelona player-turned-coach Pep Guardiola.
Zidane dismissed the comparison. “Guardiola is Guardiola, and I am going to try and do the best I can,” he said.
Earlier, the club said more than 6,000 fans turned out to watch Zidane take charge during Real’s traditional open first practice session of the year.
Zidane was named manager on Monday when Benitez was fired midway through his first season. Many Real fans and the local media were left lukewarm by Benitez’s more defensive approach, exemplified by his conservative substitutions, such as removing Karim Benzema in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Valencia.
Zidane will look to restore harmony among his players, including James Rodriguez and Francisco “Isco” Alarcon, who lost starting jobs under Benitez, and to win over the Real fans still angered by a 0-4 loss to Barcelona in November and its disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.
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