With Madrid expelled from this season’s Copa del Rey due to fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev, Zidane maintains capturing league and European silverware is the club’s target for the season.
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Bale was reported to be devastated by recent events and could consider his future especially when it comes to his role centrally on the pitch according to some reports. With Zidane, I am certain Madrid will play better.
Benitez, 55, was relieved of his duties on Monday just seven months after taking over at the Bernabeu and has been replaced by former B team coach and legendary player Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane said he would continue to play star forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, although he said Bale was not happy with Benitez’s firing.
When asked if he wants to have a career like that of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, Zidane said that he does not want to be compared to him, adding: “There is no need to draw comparisons between Guardiola and me”. “I have motivation and hope and all that will help me”. A new stage is starting for me today and the important thing is to win games.
Around 6,000 fans watched Zidane take first-team training on Tuesday and his first game as manager will be against Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
And Benitez has thanked Madrid for the chance to manage the club, albeit for a short time.
The World Cup-winning former midfielder took training for the first time on Tuesday and, at his first news conference, promised to stick to Madrid’s traditional attacking brand of football. “We’re through to the last 16 and our goal has always been to win the Champions League”. For great players that become coaches, after two or three matches they’re already condemned to produce results.
David Beckham has welcomed Zidane as “the best man for the job” after Madrid’s latest appointment.
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“It’s the best decision from Florentino Perez”.
