He's the one that scouted and brought Varane into the team and also suggested to sign Isco. I mean you're probably right about the job being much easier having the pull and resources of a club like Real Madrid but I think he has made the best out of it as a Sporting Director and manager. People are saying this squad was handed to him, but he was involved in the signing of many of this players and he was also manager for the reserves team so he has also been the one to integrate the likes of Lucas Vazquez, Nacho, Mariano, etc. into the team. So I think people aren't giving him enough credit or weren't aware of all his previous work within the club before he became a manager.
Zinedine Zidane | Resigns
- Thread starter FC Ronaldo
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
He's the one that scouted and brought Varane into the team and also suggested to sign Isco. I mean you're probably right about the job being much easier having the pull and resources of a club like Real Madrid but I think he has made the best out of it as a Sporting Director and manager. People are saying this squad was handed to him, but he was involved in the signing of many of this players and he was also manager for the reserves team so he has also been the one to integrate the likes of Lucas Vazquez, Nacho, Mariano, etc. into the team. So I think people aren't giving him enough credit or weren't aware of all his previous work within the club before he became a manager.
This is just completely arbitrary. I bet you said the same about Enrique in 2015.
I have nothing to add. I think Zidane still has very much to prove as a manager before being considered a great.
On the Guardian Football Podcast Sid Lowe talked about how the Real Madrid players did not appreciate when Rafa was trying to tell Cristiano how to take a free kick or trying to critique Modric's passing since Rafa did not have much of a playing career himself. The players called him #10 behind his back as a way to make fun of him. And that with Zidane when he talked about Modric's passing it meant something to them and with Cristiano Zidane would challenge Cristiano in training by having free kick competitions against him. So for a club like Real with all the huge egos in the dressing room someone with Zidane's stature is probably the type of guy they need.
I never rated Enrique and I still dont. Dude fluked his way to a treble because all his European competition were miraculously struck with injury and suspensions as his own team hit peak form on top of riding on the clicking of the incredible MSN attack. The following two season he was exposed , only winning the league and cup double at home due to Real's disorganization and awful start. I agree Zidane can't be considered a great. His management career is largrely in its infancy. But he can comfortably be considered way above the level a Di Matteo displayed.
Last edited:
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/arti...als-zidane-masterplan-behind-beating-juventus
"Zidane and his staff detected Juventus' defensive weakness, so throughout the week, in preparation for the final, we practiced return passes," Modric told HTV and Sportske Novosti.
"Juventus' defence is great when it comes to crosses, but not so on low return passes. That is what we worked on and that is how we scored three of our goals in the final. Congratulations to the coach for that detail, which was the key in the final."
"Zidane and his staff detected Juventus' defensive weakness, so throughout the week, in preparation for the final, we practiced return passes," Modric told HTV and Sportske Novosti.
"Juventus' defence is great when it comes to crosses, but not so on low return passes. That is what we worked on and that is how we scored three of our goals in the final. Congratulations to the coach for that detail, which was the key in the final."
The man is even getting the tactics right. Respect.
the biggest tactical tweak, which won us the game, was moving isco on the left and telling him to attack the space behind barzagli, and for the defenders to target that quickly when they pressed our build-up. We did it twice in the beginning of the second half, both times juventus were able to recover but those were very dangerous situations, particularly the second one were barzagli had to pull off an incredibly risky tackle from behind inside the box. That scared them, their line dropped back 10 meters, and that made their high pressing useless, allowing us to take over the midfield and pin them deeper and deeper
True. I'd say Zidane exploited very well the risks of a 3 line defense.
The problem with Juventus is that they didn't really use a 5 line defense, with Alves as RB and Alex Sandro as a LB, with Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini closer between them. They got cocky, thought they could hurt Madrid playing offensive and they paid a heavy price.
Madrid had too much of a great midfield to be dominated by Juve. Instead of going 5 in midfield, they should have gone 5 in defense (or at least 4) and ceased the initiative to Madrid. They were never equipped well enough to be the aggressor in this final. Only Barca can do that role vs Madrid well enough, and not because they have better players than Modric and Kroos, but because of their style and their advanced positional game knowledge.
Allegri messed up and Zidane punished him. Zidane doesn't get enough credit for this final imo. He outsmarted Juve's manager which is not easy. I wouldn't be surprised if his plan all along was to get Juve to think they can attack, giving them a false sense of security and then capitalizing on the vast spaces created in their defense.
Last edited:
He's absolutely brilliant. There's a lot to be said for giving a club legend a run as manager.
This is getting silly, now.
Can ZZ please stop winning the CL. At least take a year off.
Can ZZ please stop winning the CL. At least take a year off.
I think Mourinho has a lot to do with the confidence this team has, he came and removed their inferiority complex in relation to Guardiola's Barca. Negative tactics or not, he toughened Madrid up, took on weak links like Casillas or those interfering like Valdano. He is doing the same with us now. That's base that the current team has, ZZ came in and tweaked that. So with regards to ZZ, time will tell if he is the real deal, he will have to go somewhere else and prove himself first.
He's played with a few decent players too so he knows a thing or two about winning mentality and what it takes to win which I'm sure he communicates well with his players.
Surprised no one has put in the obligatory "we should have give it to Giggsy til the end of the season".
That's bollox and you know it. Moyes took over a League winning team. Managers do more than pick the team. Ranieri got sacked from a League winning team. Mourinho was heading for relegation with Chelsea. Squad is only half the battle.
I also think that was Mourinho's biggest contribution to the team that helped to put us in the right track. Glad you mentioned Valdano because after getting rid of him that's when Zidane started working as sports director and being involved with the transfers along with Mourinho. It has been reported Mourinho tried to sign Varane at that time (around 2011) I believe and Varane wasn't convinced 100% but Zidane then stepped up and contacted directly Varane and that's when he decided to join Real Madrid. So Mourinho wasn't a massive success but he surely managed to disrupt and piss off Barcelona.
I also think that was Mourinho's biggest contribution to the team that helped to put us in the right track. Glad you mentioned Valdano because after getting rid of him that's when Zidane started working as sports director and being involved with the transfers along with Mourinho. It has been reported Mourinho tried to sign Varane at that time (around 2011) I believe and Varane wasn't convinced 100% but Zidane then stepped up and contacted directly Varane and that's when he decided to join Real Madrid. So Mourinho wasn't a massive success but he surely managed to disrupt and piss off Barcelona.
Exhausting Pep and making him eventually leave, to boot.
Those Clasicos back then were nasty ill tempered affairs. made for some nasty viewing.
Regarding Zidane, I think he put it better than anyone in one his press conferences after winning the CL. "I wasn't as bad or green as people said I was, and I'm not the best manager in the world now either" Smart words from a very level headed man. I think he's perfect for Real Madrid and might make a great France manager one day. Maybe he could lead a top side in the Ligue or Juve to success. But I do not see him working in the PL.
Juve played four at the back (Alves was right wing).
Benitez had exactly the same squad and was atrocious.
People have become so obsessed with this cult of managers.
Zidane is perfect for Madrid, just like Pep was perfect for Barcelona, just like Conte was perfect folr returning Juve back to the top of serie A.
Right place, right players, right time and especially the right club. He is the only person that could do this with the club. No one else could because tactics mean sod all at madrid. Controlling egos is the #1 priority because Madrid have the very best talent on the planet already, tactical organisation is always secondary as Benitez found out very quickly.
The players all have big egos but wtf can any of them do when THE Zidane says anything? He has Flo's ear, he was once one of the very best to ever play etc. He was perfect for the job and he is a club legend and a symbol of Madrid. Not even SAF could reign in CR the way Zidane has. Hames hasn't complained in the media, everything has been kept under wraps. He instantly commanded respect. It has been masterful. If it was so easy to accomplish Mou wouldn't be seen as a failure, Rafa wouldn't have been axed by December and Carlo would have won it back to back.
For people saying he won't do it with a smaller team, no shit...you need the best players to win the biggest prizes. Perfect fit for Madrid.
Zidane is perfect for Madrid, just like Pep was perfect for Barcelona, just like Conte was perfect folr returning Juve back to the top of serie A.
Right place, right players, right time and especially the right club. He is the only person that could do this with the club. No one else could because tactics mean sod all at madrid. Controlling egos is the #1 priority because Madrid have the very best talent on the planet already, tactical organisation is always secondary as Benitez found out very quickly.
The players all have big egos but wtf can any of them do when THE Zidane says anything? He has Flo's ear, he was once one of the very best to ever play etc. He was perfect for the job and he is a club legend and a symbol of Madrid. Not even SAF could reign in CR the way Zidane has. Hames hasn't complained in the media, everything has been kept under wraps. He instantly commanded respect. It has been masterful. If it was so easy to accomplish Mou wouldn't be seen as a failure, Rafa wouldn't have been axed by December and Carlo would have won it back to back.
For people saying he won't do it with a smaller team, no shit...you need the best players to win the biggest prizes. Perfect fit for Madrid.
Preach.
Yeah people talking about this so fecking weirdly but like you said the best players help you win the biggest trophies. Why should he ever go and manage a small team anyway ? What is this stupid benchmark that is coaching with a small team ? Some managers are great during relegation battles, some managers are great at making the CL and some managers are great at winning things.
Exactly, different coaches are good for differnt things. It's crazy how people thing there is a one size fits all. As I said no other coach currently would have comes close to doing what Zidane did as no other coach will ever replicate the things Pep did with Barcelona or what Heynckes did with Bayern. Circumastances, players, the timing have to all be in sync.
Shit manager, will get found out.
Did someone say foundations?
Not exactly foundations but the belief and improvement of defence.
Mou isn't seen as a failure and Carlo could have won it back to back(and a league+CL double too) if it weren't for injuries.(but then again, if Suarez wasn't banned the first 3 months of the season, maybe not)
I'm nitpicking btw. Great post
Great achievements but i remain highly sceptical until he can prove himself in a more challenging environment. His stature in the game is his biggest asset. Players in Real Madrid win games on their own 90% of the time, given the huge gulf in standards. He being Zidane command instant respect. Great work but not even top 5 among current managers.
Good arguments and I do not argue that he's not on the top 5 (yet). But I do dispute that players on their own win 90% of the games. With exactly the same squad Rafa Benitez failed miserably. It's more a case of horses for courses. Zidane is perfect for team loaded with talent and competing at the highest level. But I wouldn't hire him if I had to fight for relegation.
I'd also argue that "challenging environment" is a fluid concept. Can you imagine the pressure one faces managing Madrid with those monstruous egos in the team, 2 full time sports tabloids covering the team, political pressure and trigger happy madman as your president?
Fully deserves his plaudits but Pep with Barcelona versus Pep with Man City showed that having the best players in the world at your disposal gives you a huge advantage.
Can only judge him on what he has done and so far its been fantastic, never no might have worked out the the same at this club.
Agreed. However, his tactical prowesses cannot be ascertained when he has such a superior playing staffs, as compared to the likes of Diego Simeone.
and yet he's also consistently out-thought the likes of Simeone, Luis Enrique, Ancelotti and Allegri. His in-game adjustments are great
Madrid sacked Capello after winning the first league title in 4 years because he played boring pragmatic football. Winning alone was never enough at this club. Managers don't have the luxury to look for prowess in any other way then playing attacking football and outscoring the opponent.
Give Simeone this Madrid team and he'd make them play like Benitez did. It would turn the dressing room against him, he'd get booed on the Bernabeu and fired in one month guaranteed.
You want to make it black and white but it just isn't like that.
He will renew until 2020,and Carvajal,Isco,Marcelo and Benzema in the next weeks
http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2017/06/08/primera/1496954339_257045.html?autoplay=1
http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2017/06/08/primera/1496954339_257045.html?autoplay=1
you can never discredit a league and cup success. One can give reasons as to why any manager won the damn thing in any year. Fact is he retained the trophy. That's like saying Conte only won because Jose and Pep were "finding themselves" at their new clubs etc etc. History will remember the winners
In his case though you can cast doubt on it. Because he won it narrowly, bring chased by a Real only revived by the organization Zidane brought. And given how last season panned out, IMO it just reinforces my stance. You can't say the same for Conte. He started and finished on a level playing field with Pep and Mourinho but still bested them. While Enrique only finished ahead of Zidane the first time around because Benitez had given him such a head start.
They lost the league by 3 points. Not as if they collapsed. if enrique signs 2 players, Verratti and another, they win the league IMO
By this logic Madrid only won the league this year because Barca threw it away vs small teams.
By your logic you mean. Because my argument clearly shows Enrique simply couldn't live with actual competition when luck was not favoring him. Both the league and in Europe.