Former Madrid midfielder and Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as Benitez’s replacement and Pellegrini warned of the difficulties that come with managing the club.
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It is believed that Rodriguez and Isco have fallen out with the coach Benitez during his seven months at the Santiago Bernabeu. “That’s why one team is changing manager every year, but it’s not the politics of the owners here to change immediately if you don’t win a title”. “But I am motivated, excited, and that is going to ensure that things go well”, he said. Madrid trails leader Atletico Madrid by four points and is two points behind defending champion Barcelona, which has a game in hand.
Speaking at a brief press conference, which finally got under way nearly half an hour after the scheduled start time, Zidane said: “I want to thank the club and thank the president for giving me the opportunity to train this club”.
Take a look back at some of the images left from the short-lived Rafa Benitez era at Real Madrid.
Spanish media said however that Zidane has his work cut out because of his lack of experience.
Key players such as Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez often showed their disgust when substituted by Benitez.
His first game will be on Saturday at home against Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league.
“Probably the attitude of the first-team players will be different [to the Castilla squad] because they’re experienced but the message I transmit to my players will be the same as with the second team. I never did it as a player and I won’t do it now”. He scored a remarkable volley to lead Madrid to the European title in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen. His career ended with an infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy. It gives fans something to cheer in what could be a season barren of major trophies unless Zidane can rouse Madrid’s underperforming stars with what he promised Tuesday would be an attack-minded style of play. A man that has been the best at a game we all love taking over a club that myself and many more people love. “I wish him luck”, added Zidane.
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