Former French international Zinedine Zidane is entering the new season of the Spanish league and is under tremendous pressure, because it is required to achieve results at a time when Real Madrid does not seem to be in a technical position to remove his rivals Barcelona from the throne of «La Liga».
When Real Madrid decided to use Zidane last season to replace Argentine Santiago Solari, who had only been replaced by Julen Lopetegui a few months ago, the goal of the 1998 World Cup champion was to bring him back to his glorious period of leadership from 2016 to 2018 when he won the Champions League for three seasons. Consecutive, the 2017 league title, plus two titles in both the European Super Cup and the World Club Championship.
Real's intention was clear when his president, Florentino Perez, welcomed Zidane's return: “We want to start working on a new era of glory. "That's why we welcome the return of Zinedine Zidane."
But the return of Zidane to the team for the remaining few months of last season, did not leave any noticeable impact on the results of the team, as the gap between the rivals Barcelona rather than narrowing, and finished the season third by 19 points from the Catalan club.
It will be unfair to judge Zidane based on the few months left last season, because the team was playing without motivation, after his career ended in the semi-finals of the Cup competition by Barcelona (lost home at home zero -3 after a draw 1 1), he conceded the Champions League title by losing at home in the return leg of the final to Ajax 1-4, as he was out of the race for the title because of the big difference separating them from the top.
Zidane did not bring a magical treatment to get the team out of his footsteps, as the disappointing results continued and the Royal club won only five games in the league out of 11 played after the return of the former international star on a contract until 2022.
The end of the season fully reflected the situation of Real and his players after the loss at the Santiago Bernabeu to Real Betis 2 - zero in the last stage, which prompted Zidane to express his satisfaction with the end of the season, and "now" is already the second adventure of the French star as coach of the team.
Some wondered why Zidane would return in this critical period, and his risk of tarnishing his image with the fans in the event that he could not repeat the scenario of the first experience, which culminated in three Champions League titles in three seasons.
Others felt that he would not have returned to the club if he had not received a pledge from Perez to make drastic changes to the team, and they were largely right, because Zidane succeeded in the signing of Belgian Eden Hazard of Chelsea, Serbian Luca Jovic of Eintracht Frankfurt, and Brazilian Eder Melitão from Porto, Ferlé Mandy from Lyon, and Rodrigo from Santos.
Real Madrid are certainly not in a financial position to repeat the Galacticos era and Perez's first presidency (2000-2007) and to form a team of Zidane players, Brazilian Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Raul Gonzalez, David Beckham or Sergio Ramos. Michael Owen, Brazil's Robinho and Roberto Carlos.
But he has tried so far without succeeding in getting rid of Welsh Gareth Bale, who is not included in the calculations of Zidane, the latter stressed without courtesy by saying during the US tour, "Let's hope it will be done soon for the benefit of all."
"Zidane is a shame. He doesn't respect a player who has done so much for Real Madrid," said Zidane.
Bell appeared to be out of the Santiago Bernabeu after he traveled to China to negotiate with Jiangsu Suning, who reportedly offered him a weekly salary of one million pounds (about $ 1.24 million), but Real was blocked by the deal because the financial conditions Related to it does not suit.
Bale is not the only player Zidane is looking for a way out of Real Madrid.
There has been much talk about Zidane's desire to sign fellow international midfielder Paul Pogba from Manchester United, but the Premier League kicked off last week and has remained the champion of the World Cup 2018 with the 'Red Devils', while anticipating the master of the situation regarding the Brazilian star Neymar, who wants to leave Paris Saint-Germain The Frenchman, however, will only be satisfied with the full compensation of the 222 million euros he paid in the summer of 2017 to sign him from Barcelona, the other team favorites to restore the services of «Celisao».
Based on the current situation of the team, which has until September 2 to try to strengthen its ranks with players who can help him in the task of removing Barcelona from the local throne and re-establish its dominance on the continental scene, the club opens the new season of «La Liga» against Celta Vigo with familiar faces Brazilians such as Marcelo, Casemiro, Frenchman Karim Benzema and Danny Carvajal, of course, as well as newcomer Hazard.
"For us next year, the league must be our priority," he said. The league is the longest tournament, one that cannot be missed. "I'll dig it into the minds of the players."
Zinedine Zidane:
«League is a tournament that can not be missed. "I'll dig it into the minds of the players."
Hazard is the most important deal for the Royal Club this summer.