Tag: Zidane

Real Madrid on Thursday confirmed that Zinedine Zidane has decided to step down as first team coach with immediate effect.

The club confirmed Zidane’s decision in a statement published on their official website.

It read: “Real Madrid C. F. announces that Zinedine Zidane has decided to bring an end to his current spell as head coach of our club.

“We must now respect his decision and express our gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and passion over the years and what he means to Real Madrid.”

This confirmation comes after the Spanish press reported on Thursday morning that Zidane had told both the club and the players of his decision to leave his post on Wednesday.

It ends months of speculation over his future after a season which saw Real Madrid finish without a title of any kind for the first time in 11 years.

Real Madrid finished the domestic campaign second in La Liga, lost the UEFA Champions League semi-final to Chelsea and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier side Alcoyano.

Athletic Club Bilbao also beat them in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.

One of the reasons behind Zidane’s departure is thought to be the lack of public support from the club in difficult moments of the campaign.

One of such was after a difficult period in the autumn when they lost at home to sides such as Cadiz, Alaves and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Another example was again in the New Year after the two Cup defeats.

This is the second time the 48-year-old has left Real Madrid before the end of his contract.

He stepped down as coach in the summer of 2018 days after winning the UEFA Champions League, only to make a surprise return in March 2019.

That was after Santi Solari was sacked after a difficult time in charge.

His second spell saw Real Madrid win the La Liga title in the COVID-affected 2019/2020 season.

In his first spell, the Frenchman led the club to the 2017 La Liga title and three UEFA Champions League ones (2016, 2017 and 2018).

“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s great icons and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as a coach and player at our club.

“He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid,” informed the club.

The search is now on for a new coach with four main candidates.

These are B-team coach Raul Gonzalez, along with Massimiliano Allegri (who is also being linked with Juventus), Antonio Conte and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Whoever takes over will be faced with the task of rejuvenating an aging squad with several players, such as club captain Sergio Ramos, who is likely to leave over the summer.

Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium was the scene of Zinedine Zidane’s last stand as Real Madrid coach before resigning in stunning fashion in May 2018, and the arena could spell the start of the end for his second tenure after Tuesday’s defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 2-0 loss left Madrid potentially staring at an exit from the Champions League group stage for the first time, but even if they manage to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach next week and progress, it might not be enough to save Zidane.

Zidane shocked the football world by quitting as Madrid coach after winning a third successive Champions League crown by beating Liverpool in the Ukrainian capital in 2018. However, he insisted there was no chance of him throwing in the towel this time.

But according to the Spanish media, Madrid president Florentino Perez may make the decision for him.

“Zidane is in serious danger”, said newspaper El Mundo.

“The defeat was so damning it was hard to count the number of people responsible. Zidane is tasked with fixing things urgently, but the coach may not even make it for the last group game. Right now his presence against Gladbach is at risk.”

Daily El Pais added: “With so little, an ordinary Shakhtar left Madrid shaking.”

This was Madrid’s fifth defeat in 11 matches and while they could point to the absences of key players such as captain Sergio Ramos, right back Dani Carvajal and record signing Eden Hazard, their problems run deep.

Raphael Varane, a four-time Champions League winner and World Cup champion, yet again lost focus at a crucial moment to allow Dentinho to score the opening goal and without Ramos by his side is looking increasingly vulnerable.

Perhaps more concerning is Madrid’s inability to create danger.

Karim Benzema is their only real threat and has only just returned from three weeks out, while Marco Asensio is not the same player since missing most of the last campaign with a serious knee injury.

Zidane’s power as a motivator and problem-solver also seems to be waning, evidenced by Madrid’s lethargic performance in the second half.

The Frenchman has won three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles in around four years as manager across two spells, but his record will count for little if he cannot turn things around in an unforgiving trio of upcoming matches.

Madrid visit an in-form Sevilla on Saturday searching for a first league victory in four matches, before Wednesday’s crunch match at home to Gladbach with their unblemished Champions League record on the line. They then face Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane, said his side showed less enthusiasm than promoted Cadiz in their shock 1-0 home defeat in La Liga on Saturday.

Zidane added that his team could have been two or three goals down before halftime.

Anthony Lozano gave Cadiz the lead early in the game after the visitors had missed four chances in a chaotic start from champions Real.

The Honduran forward also wasted a clear opportunity to double his side’s lead.

“They played with more pace than us and more enthusiasm.

“We can’t make any excuses, we played a bad game and we have to congratulate Cadiz. We’re not happy at all,” Zidane told reporters.

“It was very difficult for us from the start and I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had scored two or three goals in the first half.”

Real had not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat by Real Betis back in March, just before last season’s competition was halted due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Their last home defeat came in May 2019, a 2-0 loss to Betis.

Zidane has a habit of blaming poor Madrid results on their inability to convert chances and the ball “not wanting to go in” but made no effort to gloss over his team’s display here.

“The way we started the game was what concerned me the most.

“We then struggled to create chances but that’s a consequence of the bad start we had made,” the Frenchman said after his side managed only two shots on target in 90 minutes to Cadiz’s five.

But Zidane backed his side to turn things around ahead of a crucial week which sees them begin their Champions League campaign.

Real Madrid play at home against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday before visiting arch rivals Barcelona in the ‘Clasico’ next Saturday.

Real’s shock defeat saw Cadiz move up to second in the table, level on 10 points with Madrid who have a game in hand.

“I don’t think this game (against Cadiz) is going to have a big impact on us, we’re going to try and fix things.

“Of course tonight is a very bad night for us but we’re going to try and change things,” added Zidane.

“We’ve only lost three points. They are three important points, but nothing else. Now we’re thinking about our next game.”

Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane, said on Tuesday he has no interest in bringing in any more players before the transfer window closes next week.
The title-holders still looked like a work in progress in Saturday’s scrappy 3-2 win over Real Betis in La Liga, after drawing their first game of the season 0-0 at Real Sociedad.

But the Frenchman does not believe adding to his squad is the answer.

“We already have a lot of players. Why would we want to add any more?” Zidane told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s home game against Real Valladolid.

“It is already very difficult to pick a team, because all the players are very good. So, why add more.

“The market is open until Oct. 5, but I’m very happy with what I have. This squad is mine and for me they are the best.”

Zidane will be without Germany midfielder Toni Kroos against Real Valladolid and for Sunday’s trip to Levante.

But he said Eden Hazard was getting closer to returning to action.

There have been questions about Hazard’s weight, but Zidane dismissed any suggestions the Belgian forward had an unprofessional attitude.

He put the player’s lack of impact so far at Real Madrid, following his 100 million-euro move last year, down to two ankle injuries.

“I don’t think he’s unprofessional. He’s just had a very big problem which has been bothering him for a long time.

“What we want is for him to not feel any discomfort again. So, we need to wait,” Zidane added.

“It’s a long season and he wants to be back on the pitch with his team mates so he can play well and help us out.

“He’s getting very close. He’s training regularly with us and getting into shape and getting ready to come back.”

Due to renovation work on their Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid are continuing to play home matches at their training ground.

It was on that ground they won all six matches at the end of last season.