MADRID • Zinedine Zidane stood for 29 minutes fielding questions on Monday, but all of them really came down to two: Why now? And, what next?
Santiago Solari had been sacked as coach of Real Madrid and, in his place, Zidane returned on a three-year deal, 284 days after he left the club with three straight Champions League trophies in tow.
On May 31 last year, sitting next to Real president Florentino Perez, the Frenchman had said the team would not keep winning with him in charge and "needed a change".
But they looked lost without him, first under sacked Spain coach Julen Lopetegui and then Solari, who watched on as Real's season went up in smoke in six days.
The Argentinian's exit was inevitable, but the idea any suitable replacement would take over for 11 LaLiga games, with nothing to preside over except the aftermath of a crisis, seemed fanciful.
Real's distress call was, however, too great for Zidane to resist.
"When the president called me, the first thing I thought was, 'Go'," said the World Cup winner.
Which begs the question: what has changed? Rest may have refreshed motivation, particularly for Zidane, who revealed he had "never been far away".
The 46-year-old has stayed in Madrid, attending a handful of matches, while three of his sons still play for the club.
For him, the move back might have been less of a leap than it seems from the outside.
Yet the greatest lure may be that the team have been failing. For the best coaches and players, there is always self-belief, a sense that no problem is too big to solve.
Zidane knew he would return with more authority than before, despite his previous exploits.
The suspicion then was that he was just a popular face to keep the ship steady while star players engineered their own success.
As two coaches came and went, his stock rose with every chance missed, every seat left empty and every point Barcelona gained.
"I returned because the president called me. I love him and I love this club," he said. "I left the club because I needed it, for me, though at the time the club did not.
"After eight months, I want to coach again. For now, we just have to focus on what's left of the season and then see what we can do for the next years.
"We will change things, for sure, for the years to come."
Although Zidane could have waited until the close season, the job might not have been available.
However, former Real president Ramon Calderon told Sky Sports that despite Jose Mourinho's eagerness to have another crack at the hot seat, the club's "dressing room leaders" were against his return.
The Spaniard added: "He left a lot of problems and he would have been another problem to the ones we already have if he had come."
And those problems are aplenty despite Perez's boasts of a "new glorious era" after ushering in Zidane.
The latter will begin his new reign under no illusion even though Spanish daily AS has declared he will have "unprecedented power" at the Bernabeu, with full control over all aspects of the team.
Last term, Barcelona romped to the LaLiga title 17 points ahead of Real and the gap is already 12 with more than two months left.
With the Independent claiming Zidane has been given a £300 million (S$533 million) spending war chest and AS reporting he has been promised "three superstar signings", the challenge for him is to find the balance between reform and revolution.
Gareth Bale is understood to be less than enthused by his return, and that feeling is mutual, with Spanish football expert Guillem Balague telling BBC Sport Zidane "does not want to work with him", so a summer parting appears likely.
That could pave the way for Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, who by then will have one year left on his deal, with The Daily Telegraph saying yesterday that Real have already made an approach.
Paris Saint-Germain's strike duo of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have also been touted, and Perez told reporters on Monday he "would like them both".
However, there will be no return for another prodigal son after the Spaniard nixed the idea of re-signing Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Madrid for Italy last July after a nine-season spell, insisting he is "fine where he is".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
Everton v Huddersfield. I worry for Huddersfield this season. The Terriers kept their top-flight status intact last season, surviving relegation despite scoring a pitiful tally of just 28 goals - the joint-fewest from any surviving side in Premier League history as Town were silenced on 21 occasions.
Hiccup and Toothless - Where No One Goes - Fly scene
PARIS (REUTERS) - Thierry Henry was suspended by Monaco on Thursday (Jan 24) and looked set to lose his job as coach after only three months in charge at the Ligue 1 club, with former manager
Suspended Thierry Henry set to lose Monaco job | football
6 Tips for Hammering and Forming Metal from Master Metalsmith Bill Fretz October 10, 2011 | Comment on this Article When I saw master metalsmith and toolmaker Bill Fretz 's first DVD about hammering and forming metal jewelry, I was amazed at how effortless and easy he made it look to create bangles using only brass tubing, hammers, and stakes.
Holding Out for the Best Framing Hammer | Pro Tool Reviews
Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday.
Football: Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals | Sportstons
sportstons.com/soccer/football-brighton-edge-into-fa-cup-quarter-finals/
Home » Soccer » Football: Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals Football: Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals LONDON (AFP) - Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season, as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday (Feb 16).
Football: Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals, Football
Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City have no
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic on a one-and-a-half year contract. Scholes said: "I just feel ready, really. I've had
Paul Scholes: Manchester United great appointed manager of
Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
Our Tampines Hub to screen Champions League final - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/our-tampines-hub-to-screen-champions-league-final/
SINGAPORE - Our Tampines Hub will be screening the Uefa Champions League final for free on Sunday (June 2). Tampines residents and visitors to the Hub can catch the 3am game between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Town Square, which can seat 5,000 and will be open to full capacity to allow as many […]
Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/05/30/madrid-plans-robust-security-for-all-english-champions-league-final/
Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions League final AFP May 30, 2019 AFP No Comments Madrid (AFP) - Madrid will deploy an unprecedented number of police and security personnel for Saturday's all-English Champions League final, and use a drone for the first time to monitor fan activity.
Champions League » News » Madrid plans 'robust' security for
London - England captain Harry Kane insists the Three Lions' squad are too united to be divided by the tension of club rivalries surrounding the Premier League title race and upcoming Champions
Kane insists club rivalries will not split England camp
Football: Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes in
LIVERPOOL, England - Bayern Munich showed all their Champions League experience and quality organisation as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last 16 match at Anfield on Tuesday in a game of few chances and little drama.
Football: Solid and smart Bayern hold Liverpool at Anfield in
Football: Hougang United lose two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3
Women are genetically programmed to pick brains over brawn when it comes to choosing a mate, say scientists. Marilyn Monroe, who married playwright Arthur Miller, is a case in point
brain over brawn | an owner's manual for the human body
brainoverbrawn.com
Brain Over Brawn is an succinct instruction manual for the care, feeding, and maintenance of men and women, and deals in equal measure with the methods for proper upkeep and the reasoning and science behind those techniques.
Brains Over Brawn - castaway.fandom.com
Porto converted a penalty awarded following a VAR review three minutes from the end of extra time to beat AS Roma 3-1 and reach the Champions League quarter-finals after an epic finale on Wednesday.
Porto go through with extra time VAR penalty | Reuters.com
From the convenience of making a deposit from your mobile device to the comfort of a one-on-one discussion, we're proud to offer a wide array of quality personal banking products and services to help you reach your individual goals.
What Are the Biggest Threats and Priorities Facing the
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch usa soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer aid live stream
watch premier league live streaming qatar
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
tv soccer live stream sky
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch premier league live streaming juventus
free watch champions league live streaming
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer game live now
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming video
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer games live stream free
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch premier league darts live stream
watch champions league live streaming now
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch premier league live streaming video
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch soccer live streaming qatar
where to watch premier league live streaming
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
#Sunday #chocolatecoffee #zinedinezidane #risate #kopisusu #cristianoronaldo #mensnightout #sunderlandafc #football #manchesterunited #winner #footballmeme #Bar #afcnews #watchlive #boxing #liverpool #romania #PartyTime #coys #thebeatles #acmilan #vip #bayernmunich #calciatoribrutti #alissonbecker #streamingbolaid #coffeebreak #copaamerica #livestreaming #golf #soccer #gunners #4Series #realmadridcf #footballfans #linkstreaming #juventus #cappucino #coyg #livestreams #klopp #championsleague #freekick #frasirap #cr7 #comics #villarealcf #ucl #hotcoffee #coutinho #liverpoolcity #transfernews #manchestercity #manchestercity #Liamgallagher #manunited #barcelona #golazo #conference #fcbarcelona #oasisandbeatles #league2 #fut #JUVENTUS #noelgallagher #champion #tokyo #comico #bestshishacafedubai #arsenal #cristiano #frasitrap #bayern #oasisengland #bundesliga #footballstreaming #bayervshoffenheim
No comments:
Post a Comment