March 11, 2019. Nine months after leaving the Spanish capital, Zinédine Zidane made his return to Real Madrid with the certainty that this second stint would be more difficult than the first, which was successful. “It's a bigger challenge, of course, it's a second time. They just asked me, 'Aren't you taking a risk?' But if we looked at that, I wouldn't have come back. It's not just coming back, I'm driven by something else, it's a second project for me, for the club, he explained at a press conference. I'm going to take up the challenge, because I really want to, I want to train again. I think about what my heart said to me: '' you rested well ''. " Two and a half years later, Zizou decided to put an end to his Madrid adventure,one year before the end of his contract. What conclusions can we draw from his second term?
Comunicado Oficial: Zinedine Zidane. # RealMadrid
- Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) May 27, 2021
Positive results in Spain ...
When he takes the club back in hand, the French technician aims to straighten it out. The team led by Santiago Solari has had a difficult 2018-2019 season so far. Distanced in La Liga, she was also eliminated by the surprising Ajax Amsterdam team in the knockout stages of the Champions League, a competition she had made her own for the previous three years. It is clear that Zinédine Zidane has succeeded in this regard, at least in Spain. The following season, disturbed by the Covid-19, the former playmaker of the Merengue indeed led his team to the title of champion of Spain, under the nose and beard of the Barcelona rival, yet a time in the lead of the rank. A few months earlier, he also lifted his second Spanish Super Cup. This season, despite a complicated start,the Madrilenians fought to the end for the title but could not do anything against Atlético Madrid of Diego Simeone and Luis Suarez, authors of an excellent start to the championship. His record is still very positive in domestic competitions.
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... But more contrasted on the European scene
But Real Madrid is a real institution, judged also - and above all - on its performance on the European scene. On this aspect, Zinédine Zidane's record is more mixed. In 2019-2020, Zizou did little better than his predecessor since the White House was eliminated at the stage of the round of 16 by Manchester City. This season, the tricolor technician has, however, put his team among the best in Europe by allowing him to reach the last four, left by Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea. Obviously, given the relationship he has with the cup with big ears - which he has won three times in a row with the Merengues as a coach - there is a part of disappointment. It is nevertheless necessary to bring a nuance. Since his first visit,his squad has been amputated - excuse the little - of Cristiano Ronaldo, a player capable of unblocking situations thanks to his sense of goal. In addition, the French could not really count on an Eden Hazard in form. Bought at a gold price in the summer of 2019 (115 M €), the Belgian was to be the playing master of Real. He mainly experienced the infirmary due to several injuries.
The 11 titles won by Zinédine Zidane at the head of Real Madrid
In the hot seat at the end of last year
If with hindsight, his second passage is rather positive on the sporting level, we must not forget that it almost ended on a bad note. At the end of 2020, after disappointing results, the former number 10 was in the hot seat. At the time, he explained that this situation did not disturb him: “I don't think about that at all. I'm only thinking of winning and finishing first in our group, he confided in a press conference before a decisive match for the qualification in the knockout stages of C1 against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The rest, that does not interest me ... After, the club will do what it has to do, as always. But I don't think about it. The past is the past. What matters is the present and the future. What will happen will happen. ” However,this perpetual questioning seemed to cause a certain weariness in Zizou over the weeks. As evidenced by his unusual statement last February against a journalist: "Are you asking me that seriously?" If I'm going to quit and go home? What do you want to tell me, that everyday I'm fired? We just want to work with the players, to keep fighting, he annoyed. Last season we won La Liga. We, Real Madrid. So we have the right to defend our title. At least this season, because after that it might take some changes. But there, let us fight. Once again, we won La Liga last season. Not ten years ago, last season. ”As evidenced by his unusual statement last February against a journalist: "Are you asking me that seriously?" If I'm going to quit and go home? What do you want to tell me, that everyday I'm fired? We just want to work with the players, to keep fighting, he annoyed. Last season we won La Liga. We, Real Madrid. So we have the right to defend our title. At least this season, because after that it might take some changes. But there, let us fight. Once again, we won La Liga last season. Not ten years ago, last season. ”As evidenced by his unusual statement last February against a journalist: "Are you asking me that seriously?" If I'm going to quit and go home? What do you want to tell me, that everyday I'm fired? We just want to work with the players, to keep fighting, he annoyed. Last season we won La Liga. We, Real Madrid. So we have the right to defend our title. At least this season, because after that it might take some changes. But there, let us fight. Once again, we won La Liga last season. Not ten years ago, last season. ”that every day I'm fired? We just want to work with the players, to keep fighting, he annoyed. Last season we won La Liga. We, Real Madrid. So we have the right to defend our title. At least this season, because after that it might take some changes. But there, let us fight. Once again, we won La Liga last season. Not ten years ago, last season. ”that every day I'm fired? We just want to work with the players, to keep fighting, he annoyed. Last season we won La Liga. We, Real Madrid. So we have the right to defend our title. At least this season, because after that it might take some changes. But there, let us fight. Once again, we won La Liga last season. Not ten years ago, last season. ”last season. "last season. "
This heavy atmosphere undoubtedly had an impact on his choice to leave Real Madrid.
From now on, Zidane, who will have collected in the Spanish capital no less than eleven titles as a technician, can take a rest.
Unless he is attracted to another challenge?
His name should in any case circulate in the coming days around several big clubs.
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Zidane and Real, it's officially over