"Maybe it's just a hasta luego ": Zinédine Zidane said that when he announced his resignation as Real Madrid coach nine months ago. However, only the greatest optimists among the then shocked Real fans could assume that this "See you soon" materialize so soon. Zidane is back - to end the mess in the club. And apparently also to test yourself.

His job is gigantic. Real did not accidentally lose all title chances in one week, and was literally shown off by Ajax Amsterdam. The squad is not well balanced. Long-standing supports are over 30 years old, other players are still very young. There are hardly any professionals in the so-called "best football age" between 25 and 28 years. In addition, there was a certain oversaturation after three Champions League victories in a row. Real is about to build a whole new team.

Predecessor Solari also failed in itself

Zidane's predecessor, Santiago Solari, who had been cast in office just four months later, also failed to push well-intentioned approaches to extremes. He demoted stars like Isco, Marcelo or Gareth Bale, but does not achieve the desired defiance - but lost the players. When he was reliant on impulses from the bench in Real's fateful week with two games against FC Barcelona and the Champions League duel against Ajax, he found only sullen professionals there.

Where everyone at Real did what he wants, and the players battled each other in disputes and justification discourses, all are now supposed to reunite under the aura of Zidane.

The sporting goals are manageable: In an unofficial city championship with Atlético Madrid (five points ahead of Real) and the amazing suburban club Getafe (six points back), it is probably still the vice-championship behind FC Barcelona. But of course, with the first training under Zidane on Tuesday, the casting for the new season begins. Who is allowed to stay, who is not?

Bale is unlikely to have a future in Madrid

Gareth Bale, for example, is unlikely to be in Madrid for the future because Zidane already wanted to leave him when he was still a coach. Also because President Florentino Pérez ultimately decided that the Welshman should remain, the Frenchman is said to have resigned a few days after the Champions League final.

Spanish national team-mate Dani Ceballos, who was hardly considered by Zidane last season, is unlikely to be impressed by Monday's developments. With supposedly safe distance the midfielder later said that he would have sought a new club, Zidane would have remained. The coach wishes Ceballos patronizing, "in the future not to repeat the mistakes he has committed here".

Zidane needs to develop young players

For his part, Zidane justified his resignation in the summer as follows: "I do not realize that we will continue to succeed." The team needed "a different approach and different working methods". Does not she need that anymore? Is his way the only one that works? Or did Pérez just give him the concessions he failed to give him last summer?

He will be challenged more than before in his second term as a football teacher, developing young players. The 18-year-old Brazilian Vínicius already hinted at his exceptional talent under Solari, but is now injured for about two months. In summer, his then same-age and also bought for 45 million euros compatriot Rodrygo join the team.

Even Real's only winter transfer, the 19-year-old Brahim Díaz, has yet to be honed, and possibly even comes back to Holland lent Martin Ödegaard back Zidane once could not significantly advance as coach of the second team. He was successful with Casemiro or Marco Asensio, whom he formed into top performers.

President Pérez as a big winner

When he said goodbye last summer, Zidane also spoke of his eternal gratitude to Pérez for bringing him to Madrid as a player. The President has cashed the check for this advance payment at the latest.

Pérez is probably the biggest winner of yesterday. After massive criticism of his squad planning, he is now out of the line of fire again.

However, anyone who thinks that everything will automatically be fine again at Real Madrid, which is only a selective look back recommended. Where the captain is currently twelve points behind FC Barcelona, ​​it was already 15 points last season and even 17 points in the end. The coach was known as Zinédine Zidane.