All eyes will be on new Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane and on how he delivers his brand of attacking football spearheaded by the “BBC” in his first match in charge against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga Saturday.
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Zinedine Zidane’s head-coaching career got off to a winning start as Real Madrid defeated Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 in the Spanish league on Saturday. We are 25 and some will play more than others, but at the end the most important thing is the group.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not join his fellow attackers on the scoresheet, but Zidane insists that he was still happy with the contribution that the Portuguese forward made.
“This is a hard but stimulating challenge, I want to take up the challenge and do my utmost to win titles”, said Zidane. We have tremendous quality, I can’t single out just one player.
He is favored to win a record fifth Ballon d’Or on Monday, from a shortlist with Neymar and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
“We have to think that the work done by Benitez has been good and I want to wish him all the best for the future. As long as I’m here he won’t leave, that’s for sure”, the Frenchman told a press conference ahead of his first game in charge on Saturday.
The B team now lie second in the table but have just one win since mid-November. I don’t need signings either – I have a good group, with numbers, am happy with squad I have.
Sunday (tomorrow): Villarreal v Sporting Gijon, Real Sociedad v Valencia, Eibar v Espanyol, Las Palmas v Malaga, Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid.
“Arda and I knew when we signed that we would have to wait for six months”, Vidal said. “The team’s attitude was different and hopefully we can continue in the same way”.
Bringing in the former French national team, Juventus and Real Madrid superstar resulted in an immediate sea change for the Blancos and the atmosphere at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where jeers and tension gave way to standing ovations and unbridled joy. “I will sleep well tonight”, he said with a smile.
Deportivo will pose problems as they have lost only three times this season and have already taken points off Barcelona and Atletico.
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Out on the training pitch, Madrid’s players had looked to be enjoying themselves earlier on, in contrast to what some former pupils of Benitez had described as sterile sessions under the Spanish coach.
