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Tag: Zidane

  • UCL: I will not resign as Madrid boss – Zidane

    UCL: I will not resign as Madrid boss – Zidane

    Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he won’t resign after their poor 2-0 Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.

    The loss, the second in the space of four days, leaves Los Blancos in real danger of missing out on the knockout stages of the Champions League.

    “I’m not going to resign, [it’d be] no use,” Zidane said in Kiev. “We were very good in the first half, but we were missing goals. We were pressing well, playing well… The ball didn’t want to go in. We had chances, [we hit] the post… and then it got complicated.

    “I’m strong and I’m going to give everything. I think we deserved to win. We had chances. We can’t let our heads drop. When you have a bad run, you have to keep going.

    “It’s a bad run in terms of results, but we have to keep going. It was a ‘final’ today. We prepared for it well, but the ball didn’t go in. We have a game to win and [let’s] move on.”

    Zidane has been the subject of criticism this season due to the team’s apparent lack of direction in their style of play.

    “I don’t think there’s a problem, lots of things are coming together [at the same time],” Zidane added. “We created chances, it’s not to do with our game. We’re struggling to score goals. An opening goal would’ve made the game easier for us.”

  • Madrid president must kick out Zidane – Gatti

    Madrid president must kick out Zidane – Gatti

    Argentine great Loco Gatti believes time is running out for Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

    Zidane is again under pressure after yesterday’s 4-1 humbling at Valencia.

    Gatti called into El Chiringuito last night, stating: “I’m very hot with Madrid as a friend of Florentino (Perez, president) … I think the time has come for Zidane to step aside.

    “He wins games because it’s Madrid and they have players who win … I have a fever … This Zidane makes my heart die.

    “Florentino has to kick him out, he’s not going to kick him out because he’s a friend of his, but it’s time for him to leave and step aside.”

  • 6 things you may not know about Zinedine Zidane

    6 things you may not know about Zinedine Zidane

    There’s little left to say about ‘Zizou,’ undoubtedly one of the greatest ever figures in football history. But here are six things you may not know about Zinedine Zidane, from his remarkable trophy-winning statistics as Real Madrid coach to starring in his own TV documentary,

    1. HE AVERAGES A TROPHY EVERY 19 GAMES

    The 2019-20 LaLiga Santander title is Zinedine Zidane’s 11th as Real Madrid coach in just three and a half seasons, a figure which rounds out, incredibly, at around one trophy every 19 games. Also, he’s yet to lose a Champions League knockout tie, and is the only coach to win Ol’ Big Ears three seasons in a row. Having said that, there’s nothing quite like winning LaLiga for Zidane, as he made clear this Thursday after wrapping up the title: “The Champions League is the Champions League, but this title makes me happier because LaLiga is what it’s all about.”

     

    2. HE IS REAL MADRID’S FIRST FRENCH MANAGER

    Real Madrid have had many French players over the years and they’ve had head coaches from 16 different countries. But ZZ is the first Frenchman to sit in the club’s dugout as coach. He first took over in January 2016, staying on until May 2018 before taking over again in March 2019. Taking into account this season’s LaLiga Santander title, he’s already won 11 trophies as manager. Remarkable.

     

    3. JUST ONE TROPHY ELUDES HIM

    Zidane has won almost everything there is to win in football, from the World Cup and Champions League to the Ballon d’Or and a horde of domestic titles. But the Copa del Rey remains elusive, both as a player and manager. He won the 2014 Copa del Rey as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti, but to date he is yet to win Spain’s domestic cup competition as a leading man.

     

    4. HIS SONS ARE FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTBALLING FOOTSTEPS

    Zidane is the father of four boys, all of which have made careers for themselves in the world of football. Midfielder Enzo is currently on the books of Almeria UD and pushing for promotion out of LaLiga SmartBank, Spain’s second tier. Goalkeeper Luca is currently at Rayo Vallecano, while Theo and Elyaz and still underage and part of the youth academy at Los Blancos.

     

    5. THE MOST POPULAR FRENCHMAN OF ALL TIME

    In a 2004 poll in leading French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche, Zidane was voted as the most popular Frenchman of all time. The poll wasn’t limited to sports stars but took all public figures into account, with Zidane’s footballing exploits seeing him picked ahead of other iconic personalities. ZZ explained at the time that he was proud of how someone from an immigrant background could come top in such a poll, highlighting the importance of racial harmony in modern day France.

     

    6. HE STARRED IN HIS OWN DOCUMENTARY

    Back in 2006, ZZ was the star of French documentary Zidane, Un Portrait Du 21e Siecle (“Zidane, a 21st century portrait”). This very unique show saw a film crew focus 17 cameras on the Frenchman for the entirety of a Real Madrid match against Villarreal in 2005. But that’s not all he’s done in the world of film; he has also starred in movies such as Goal! II (2007) alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, David Beckham and Thierry Henry and Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008).

    Tribalfootball

  • Transfer: Real Madrid’s Zidane approves transfer for Chelsea’s Hazard

    Chelsea star, Eden Hazard, is close to finalising his move to Real Madrid as the manager of the Spanish side, Zinedine Zidane, has approved the transfer.

    Hazard, this news medium understands, wanted to move to the Bernabeu last summer but Maurizio Sarri convinced him to stay with the Blues for one more term.

    However, Marca reports that with less than 15 months to finish his current deal, the Belgian is almost set to join the Bernabeu said.

    Chelsea and Madrid are now close to agreeing to the terms of Hazard’s departure which is expected to be finalised imminently.

    Already, the Blues had slapped a £100million price tag on Hazard last summer and it’s likely they’ve demanded a similar fee this time around, despite Hazard’s contract having just one year left

  • Zidane woos Mbappe, says I would be happy to coach him

    Zinedine Zidane has spoken of his admiration for fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe ahead of his second stint as Real Madrid manager.

    Zidane returned as manager at the Bernabeu on a three-and-a-half year deal earlier this week, replacing Santiago Solari.

    With the club 12 points behind league leaders Barcelona and five points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, Zidane has been tasked with restoring the club to its former glory.

    And many experts believe the appointment could signal a return to the ‘Galactico’ approach in the transfer market – buying the biggest names in world football.

    It has seen Real Madrid linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Mbappe with Zidane declaring he would love to coach his fellow Frenchman.

    But speaking ahead of his first match back at the helm, against Celta Vigo at home on Saturday, Zidane also admitted he hasn’t spoken to club president Florentino Perez about signing him.

    “Like any good player, I would be happy to coach him,” Zinedine Zidane said. “But it’s not the time to talk about that.”

  • Ronaldo-less Real Madrid climb to third after Malaga win

    Real Madrid have moved to third in the La Liga after beating Malaga 2-1 on Sunday in a game the Los Blancos rested superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

    The scoreline may look tight but the Madrid club won the game comfortably thanks to Isco who scored one and set up another at La Rosaleda.

    Diego Rolan scored a consolation for Malaga with the last kick of the game.

    “Today I can be happy with a job well done,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.

    Zidane also rested Luka Modric and Raphael Varane as he prepares his side for a Champions League semi-final fixture against Bayern Munich.

    After scoring his first Real goal in nine appearances against his former club, Isco held his hands up apologetically, and he enjoyed a warm reception from the Malaga fans when substituted in the second half.

    “He has always been important, despite what everyone thinks,” Zidane said of Isco.

    “He is important, even if sometimes you think I have something else in my head.”

  • I can’t see Cristiano Ronaldo exit, says Zinedine Zidane

    Head coach Zinedine Zidane believes Cristiano Ronaldo belongs at Real Madrid and cannot imagine him leaving the Spanish giants.

    The Portugal forward has scored nine goals in six Champions League games but only four in 14 in La Liga this season.

    According to reports, Ronaldo has had a contract dispute with Real and been linked with a Manchester United return.

    But Zidane said: “I always say the same thing, I do not see a Madrid without Cristiano.”

    Ronaldo, 32, is under contract until 2021 and won his fifth Ballon d’Or last month, as well as scoring the only goal in Real’s Club World Cup final win over Gremio.

    Although his Champions League form has boosted Real’s hopes of claiming a third straight European crown, they are fourth in La Liga after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Villarreal.

    Since making an £80m move from United in 2009, Ronaldo has 422 goals in 418 games for Real but he has failed to score in his past three league games.

    Zidane added: “We know what is discussed, but what Cristiano has to do is think about playing, as always.

    “I just want to talk about his performance and what he can bring to the team on the pitch.

    “Cristiano is a part of this club, where he belongs. The club, the fans, everyone loves him.

    “The sporting side is the one that I am interested in. I do not want to talk about the contract and those things.”

    After winning just two of their last seven league games, Real are 19 points behind leaders Barcelona with a game in hand.

    Asked about his own future, Zidane said: “I am not thinking about that. I go day by day and will not change.”

  • El Clasico: Zidane equals Mourinho away record

    El Clasico: Zidane equals Mourinho away record

    Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona on Saturday, means their manager Zinedine Zidane, has gone 17 matches unbeaten to the road.

    This sees him equal Jose Mourinho’s record.

    Luis Suarez opened scoring for the hosts, before Sergio Ramos headed in a late equalizer.

    The first half, which was a drab affair, ended without goals, although Luis Enrique’s men played much better than the visitors.

    Suarez eventually opened scoring in the second half, heading in Neymar’s free-kick, after Raphael Varane failed to pick him up inside the box.

    Lionel Messi and Neymar had great chances to settle the tie and close the gap on their eternal rivals to three points. But it was Ramos who had the final word, heading in powerfully from a free-kick.

    Madrid remain six points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

    Zidane’s team are yet to lose a game in the league this season.