Zidane's puzzle never had so many pieces

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When between the months of August and November 2019 Vinicius Jr. was sorry to be repeatedly on the bench, or directly outside the calls - at that time he accounted for ten substitutions and three exclusions in 19 games - Zinedine Zidane explained the reasons for the that he did not find a greater participation of the Brazilian necessary: ​​“There are other important players. I have to choose, and that won't change. ”

This Friday, for the fourth consecutive time - the tenth this season - Rodrygo was ruled out, as was Gareth Bale, who already has 16 absences in total, the latter despite having overcome a gastroenteritis that has also appealed to Jovic. However, in the absence of Asensio being discharged, Zidane has a payroll of nine attackers to face the final leg of the season: Hazard, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, Jovic, Brahim, Mariano, Vinicius and Rodrygo.

“We know that Rodrygo is an important player for us - he is the second top scorer with seven goals, tied with Ramos - and when they are all there is a call. He is 18 years old and has shown that his site is here, but it is complicated, ”said the Madrid coach, who instead incorporated Vinicius - who has not lost a game since January 26 - and Lucas Vázquez, of again a fixed since in January he recovered from a fracture in the left foot. Both are currently ahead of Rodrygo in the rotation, whose last ownership dates back to January 26 in Valladolid.

In a temporary space of just eight days, the whites will face Levante, Manchester City (next Wednesday) and Barcelona (March 1), and for the first time they will do so with the range of attack players practically complete. “We know that now the most complicated thing is coming and that each game will be even more difficult because we reach the end of the season. We know what we play and the points that are at stake, ”said Zidane.

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After signing a sequence of 21 games without knowing the defeat, and in which he left the goal to zero in 13, Madrid has conceded seven goals in the last three matches against Real Sociedad (4), Osasuna (1) and Celta ( 2), the same as in the previous 14 meetings. Zidane was slightly upset about it, although he did leave some brushstroke about why he thinks this circumstance has occurred. “It is our duty not to risk defensively because with the ball we know that we have many resources and many possibilities to harm the opponent. For me the most important thing is that when we don't have the ball, everyone tries to recover it as soon as possible and that is the key. All players have to be aware of the defense and if they are involved in recovering as quickly as possible it is easier afterwards, ”he said.

The return of Hazard after 82 days of leave, together with the unquestionable presence of Benzema, leave a single hole in the white attack unoccupied that has generated a career that adds more aspirants today than ever.

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