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Speculations are rife in the Spanish media, that Zidane would replace Rafa Benitez as the new manager of Real Madrid. Madrid succumbed to a 4-0 loss to fierce rivals Barcelona last Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu and the pressure on the Spanish manager is more than ever.
Following the humiliating defeat, calls to sack Benitez have intensified, amid rumours of the manager’s already strained relationship with star players. The name that has come forward is of the former Blancos superstar, Zinedine Zidane. But the Madrid legend has tried to cool down the talk, stating that he is not ready yet to take the helm at Real Madrid.
Zidane had a monumental career with the Los Blancos where he was a part of the Galacticos team along with the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo and Figo. The attacking midfielder is regarded as one of the greatest players of the game and has a cult following in Madrid. Zidane served as the assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti in 2013-14 and took up the job at Real Madrid Castilla to hone his skills as a manager.
The former France captain has now insisted that he is satisfied with his progress at Castilla where he has begun his second season as the head coach. According to Goal, Zidane said, “I am coach of Castilla and Benitez [is the coach] of the first team. Things are fine at the moment,”
“I am here to coach Castilla and if I stay at the club it is to coach Castilla. Last year, at the end of the season, I had the feeling that I still lacked something to take over the first team. I’m stubborn as I didn’t meet my objectives [of promotion to La Segunda], but I must meet them.
He added, “I am doing things little by little and I am in no rush. The important thing is to be happy day-to-day with what I am doing. Right now I'm at Castilla.”
Spain’s daily Marca agrees with Zidane. It suggests that the former Liverpool and Napoli manager has the backing of the most influential man at Madrid, that is, Florentino Perez even though the manager has failed to form a good accord with the dressing room and the staff. According to the newspaper Zidane would be the first in line to replace Rafa Benitez if he fails to produce the results that are expected of one of the best football clubs in the world.
