He told Le Monde: “Zidane is a myth. A myth capable of setting off emotions in people, and not only positive ones”.
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The Bernebeu Stadium will buzz with anticipation when the Frenchman takes his place on the touchline, looking to start guiding Los Blancos back to the top in La Liga, but as Dan Williams reports, even a legend like Zizu who’s replacing Rafa Benitez in the hot seat can feel nervous in the lead-up to a big game.
The Portugal captain has been rumoured to be considering his future at the Santiago Bernabeu despite Zidane having succeeded Rafael Benitez as head coach this week.
Sunday (tomorrow): Villarreal v Sporting Gijon, Real Sociedad v Valencia, Eibar v Espanyol, Las Palmas v Malaga, Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid.
That’s a shame because the Frenchman was also one of the game’s all-time best players. “I’m going to put all my heart into Real Madrid”.
The feelgood factor is back at Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s role aside, there is naturally much speculation over the identity of Zidane’s first starting XI, especially after cameras filmed part of Friday’s training session showing 11 players working together to suggest that Isco and Dani Carvajal will be selected.
Our landlord believes Chelsea will lose Hazard to Real Madrid in the summer and that the club’s priority should be getting the highest price possible for the 24-year-old.
The new manager, meanwhile, confirmed that the Portuguese star will remain unmovable alongside Bale and Benzema for his managerial debut match against Deportivo, despite Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti were heavily questioned for fielding the trio together as the team appeared to lack of balance with them. Zidane takes over as coach in the middle of La Liga title contention and just before knockout play in the Champions League.
Zidane and his wife Veronique Fernandez, whom he married in 1994, have four sons – Enzo, 20; Luca, 17; Theo, 13, and Elyaz, 10.
Florentino Perez is now in his second period as Club President and since 2009, he has brought players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Gareth Bale to the club. “The main thing I want is him to be happy – everything else comes from that”. On the opposite side, Michel Salgado was closer to Real Madrid’s goal, so the ref waved play on.
Zidane was also asked to comment on the remarks from his former National team manager, Raymond Domench, who labelled the World Cup victor a “human god”. “The players already know what to do and it is then up to the former greats to show intelligence, in order to simply help them get better”.
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“He could add to the game of these great players with the smallest of details, because at that level it’s the details that count”.
