Zinedine Zidane is definitely a miracle worker.
Highly contested for a few months and victim of a real hecatomb of injuries within his workforce, the French technician managed to qualify Real Madrid for the semi-finals of the Champions League by eliminating Liverpool on Wednesday (3-1, 0-0).
With this performance, which confirms the victory of the Merengue in the Clasico (2-1) last weekend, the Iberian media found themselves very annoyed by the very harsh criticisms they had issued towards Zidane.
“Line up to apologize to Madrid,”
Marca
headlines
.
“Madrid was given for dead in October.
And in November.
Not in December, but in January and the first days of February.
Today, April 14, 2021, the team that smacked of the Europa League is already in the Champions League semi-finals, not to mention that it is fighting for La Liga, ”the daily continues.
By "Madrid", Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa, the journalist, surely means Zidane.
The work of the former number 10 of the Blues is then properly praised: "with a team devastated by injuries, but which has the best possible coach sitting on the bench: Don Zinedine Zidane".
A great mea culpa which could have its importance on the future of "Zizou" on the merengue bench.
Courtois, Valverde and the central hinge in the spotlight
It is not only him who shone this Wednesday.
If the press agrees that it was not Madrid's biggest game this season, a few players stood out, starting with Thibault Courtois.
"A decisive match for his career: the imperial demonstration of Courtois", writes
AS.
“The Belgian was Real Madrid's best player at Anfield and kept the team in suspense, especially in the first half with two high-quality saves,” continues the pro-Real newspaper.
Author of a great match, the goalkeeper is even congratulated in
Mundo Deportivo
, pro-Barça media: “Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid goalkeeper, was decisive in his saves to seal the qualification of the white team in half. Champions League final, where she will face Chelsea ”.
But for the Catalan daily, it is the Militao-Nacho hinge, which replaced the usual Ramos-Varane association, which was the most impressive.
"Nacho and Militao, the duo that made a name for themselves at Anfield," wrote
Mundo Deportivo
.
“Zidane explored and invented his own duo.
He found another unexpected pair: Nacho and Militao, heroes of another night of European success, ”he continues.
Finally, the courage of Federico Valverde, aligned to the position of right side, him the usual midfielder, particularly marked the spirits.
Especially since his companion revealed after the match how much the Uruguayan had played injured and under infiltration after a blow received a few days ago.
“The 'Pajarito' played at a high level, although he was not in his preferential position.
He did not stop running and had a lot of work in Liverpool's continuous arrivals on Courtois' goal, ”greeted
AS
.
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