Zidane has been in charge of Madrid’s feeder team, Castilla, in the Spanish third division for 18 months, with mixed success. Perez recently praised Zidane and said that naturally he would become Madrid’s coach one day.
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Bale was said to be particularly disappointed by Rafa Benitez’s sacking this week, with Balague saying: “Lots of Real Madrid players are playing as individuals, and Bale felt Rafa was working towards making it work as a team”. But I am not going to compare. Zidane has described the Welshman, 26, as “fundamental” to the team.
Perez had publicly backed Benitez, despite the growing pressure in recent weeks, which saw him routinely jeered by his own fans, but is believed to have finally bowed to the will of the players and supporters.
The former Barcelona player said it is “the only reason” behind him not renewing his contract with the German champions.
Guardiola, a former Barca midfielder, enjoyed a trophy-laden four years as coach, winning 14 titles including the Champions League twice. Zidane dismissed the comparison.
“You can’t do the same thing as another coach, I must do Zidane”.
“I am going to give him all my affection and support so that he plays well”. It is an important day for me, it’s an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club.
“My first words were very important for the players because we trained in front of our fans”, said Zidane.
“We will try to have the ball and attack fast, this is how I understand football. I am going to put my heart and soul into this job so that everything works out well”, he added.
Zidane also spoke about his apprenticeship working for the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti at Real and how he aims to take parts of their management and mesh it with his own ideals in his first high-profile coaching job.
“To win is absolutely essential in this group”, Zidane said of that game, “and I’m very aware of it”. It has to be offensive football, balanced, and nothing else. A man that has been the best at a game we all love taking over a club that myself and many more people love.
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The Welsh worldwide is a long-term target for the club and, despite the new Real boss stating that he has no intention of selling Bale, it has boosted their hopes. “The target always is to win the Champions League and I will try to make that possible”.
