Madrid (AFP)

Experience, composure and workforce rotation: despite injuries and poor performance, Zinédine Zidane managed to redress a badly started situation in the Champions League, where his Real Madrid can validate his ticket for the round of 16 on Tuesday against at Shakhtar Donetsk (6:55 p.m.).

Three-time winner as coach of the queen of European competitions (2016, 2017 and 2018), "ZZ" had his most difficult start to the season this season in C1: Real were defeated 3-2 at home by the team B of Shakhtar for the first day, before being hung 2-2 on the ground of Borussia Mönchengladbach for the second day at the end of October.

But since then, the situation has changed: two convincing victories against Inter Milan, finalist of the last Europa League, 3-2 and 2-0, and the "White House" points to second place in group B at one point from leader, "Gladbach".

- "The right road to follow" -

"I don't know if it's the most complete game of the season or not, but we played a great game. We were told that we weren't winning in the Champions League without Sergio Ramos, and tonight we won . We are improving, and I think this is the right road to follow. We must continue, "encouraged the Marseillais after the success in Milan.

A victory Tuesday in Ukraine, and it would be a 24th consecutive qualification for the second round in as many European campaigns since 1997 ... and one step closer to a possible fourth coronation for Zidane in his competition-fetish.

However, the complications continued to accumulate for "Zizou": in addition to the injury of his captain Ramos (hit in the femoral biceps of the right leg, in the recovery phase), the coach lost the striker Belgian Eden Hazard, victim of a muscle injury to his right thigh in the 28th minute of the match against Alavés on Saturday, and absent from the trip to Ukraine.

But then how did the French technician manage to relaunch the Madrid machine in Europe once again?

Already, there is the identity of his team: Zinédine Zidane and Real Madrid are never as strong as when they are back to the wall.

This was already the case last season (November 6, 2019), where Zidane was close to being ousted according to the Spanish press before a decisive Champions League match against Galatasaray ... which the Madrilenians ended up winning 6- 0.

- "Complicated moments" -

Then there is Zidane management: never euphoric in victory, never fatalistic in defeat, the technician who led Real to their famous treble in C1 was able to manage the minutes and weak times of his players.

"Sometimes everything is fine and from time to time there is a bit more complicated, as is the case with the general situation today", explained "ZZ" last Tuesday at a press conference before d 'tackle the return leg against Inter Milan.

"We have experienced a lot of weird things, injuries, a different preparation ... All that has a lot of influence. But the desire to win will never fail at this club. The players know where they are, what it is to play for Real Madrid, and I am convinced that the desire, we will always have it, "assured Zidane on Monday at a pre-match press conference.

Zidane also fully exploited the XXL workforce of the "White House": in the absence of Karim Benzema, it is for example Mariano Diaz who was offered an unexpected center-forward role last week against Inter.

But the French center forward, hit in the adductor of the left leg before the last international window, returned to the Real group for the trip to Donetsk on Tuesday.

Good news for "Zizou", on track to qualify for the 8th and who fully intends to correct last season's mistake, which had ejected Real from the race for the Cup with big ears from the 8th against Manchester City.

With a victory on Tuesday in Ukraine, Zidane will be able to turn to his next challenge: straightening the bar for Real Madrid ... in La Liga, where the defending champion is already behind by seven points behind Real Sociedad, astonishing leader.

© 2020 AFP