Images
Getty Images; PA
“ZIDAn E DIRECTS THE ORCHESTRA LIKE
n O On E ELSE. WE’LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL”
A 4-4-2 diamond, with Isco at the tip and Ronaldo upfront alongside
Benzema or Morata became the go-to formation. Ronaldo found the
net seven times in three Champions League games – five across both
legs to dispose of Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and a hat-trick
in a 3-0 first-leg win against Atletico Madrid in the last four – to prove
beyond doubt the genius of his manager’s long-term plan.
June’s Champions League final against Juventus afforded Zidane his
best chance to show off that acumen. For the week before the match,
training session after training session was dedicated to low cutbacks
from the byline back to the penalty spot, after Zidane noticed Juve’s
tendency in their quarter-final victory against Barcelona to defend and
protect the area immediately in front of keeper Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.
“The Juve defence are brilliant when it comes to crosses into the box,
but not so much when it comes to low cutbacks,” said Modric after the
4-1 romp in Cardiff. “We worked on that constantly and that’s how we
scored three of our four goals. Congratulations to the coach.”
That tactical twist is Zidane’s coup de grace, just when critics tried to
dismiss the Frenchman’s achievements as a mere motivator.
“There’s no doubt there are still those who are convinced that Zidane
doesn’t have a tactical brain, who think that everything is down to the
players, but everything starts with him,” says journalist Jimenez. “He
changed formations and brought in Isco, Asensio and Mateo Kovacic
as well. That’s all down to his philosophy and football brain.”
Derik agrees. “You can say that he’s got great players, but they’re the
same ones who didn’t have a great last season under Carlo Ancelottiand struggled with Benitez. It doesn’t matter how good the players are,
you’ve got to learn how to manage them.”
The celebrations, becoming the first Real Madrid coach since 1958
to win the league title and European Cup in the same season, meant
so much to someone who has Blanco blood. Zidane said “gracias” 18
times in his post-match press conference.
“You enjoy it a bit more as a coach, because to achieve those victories
is more difficult,” Zidane explained. “The key is that everyone has felt
important. Above all else, though, the key thing is that all the players
get on really f**king well.”
President Perez was no less ecstatic.
“Zidane directs the orchestra like no one else,” he said at full-time,
confirming his manager and friend would continue into 2017-18.
“We have the best players and are working on the youngsters. He’s
changed our history ever since joining us in 2001 and we will always
be grateful.”“ MADRID ARE n OW THE DOMIn A nT FORCE In EUROPEAn FOOTBALL”
No Real Madrid coach, not even Jose Mourinho, has enjoyed as much
power at the Bernabeu. When reports emerged over the summer in
the Portuguese and Spanish press that Ronaldo was looking to leave,
feeling pursued by the Hacienda (Spain’s HMRC) over alleged unpaid
tax and unsupported by the club over his upcoming court date, Zizou
was the first person to pick up the phone. He wanted to understand
the situation for himself.
“Cris, we need you,” said the coach from his family holiday in Italy.
Quite apart from the Portuguese’s goals, Zidane explained, it was CR7’s
winning mentality he needed the most.
Ronaldo appreciated the gesture, with his manager persuading the
Ballon d’Or favourite to at least not go public and delay making a hasty
decision. All the work that had gone into explaining how Zidane could
help prolong his career meant the world’s best player remained in the
Spanish capital. No one else could have overturned the iron will of this
most headstrong of men.
Ultimately, all the players trust him. Ten days before the Champions
League final against Juventus, Zidane marched into Florentino Perez’s
office to say: “Keylor Navas is my goalkeeper.” Effectively, Florentino,
don’t bother signing David de Gea. Navas may not be a star name, but
his consistent excellence throughout three seasons at the Bernabeu
– especially at the business end of the last one – and the easy-going
atmosphere the Costa Rican creates in the group meant Zizou wouldn’tClockwise from top
Zidane’s rapport
with Ronaldo was
vital to CR7’s
decision to stay in
the summer; “Give
us a chance,
gaffer!”; posing with
‘Old Big Ears’ for the
second season in
succession128 The Managers FourFourTwo.comZIDAn E