Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League with Real Madrid within his first five months in management and went on a record-breaking 40-match unbeaten run in Spanish football.
Yet, no one in the past envisaged the iconic Frenchman in a coaching role, not even some of his closest team-mates, Michel Salgado included.
Sport360 caught up with the former Madrid full-back at the DuFC Champions tournament in Dubai this weekend where he revealed his surprise that ‘Zizou’ stepped into management, let alone his success in the role since.
“To be honest, I thought that he would never be a coach because he said that,” the Spaniard recalls.
“When he retired he told us that he will never be a coach or at least he didn’t have that in mind. But things happen in life and the problem is when you retire, you don’t know what will happen next and you miss the competition so much.
“That’s why Zizou went to coach the second team of Real Madrid and it was a good experience for him.He liked the coaching and he got the opportunity to manage the Real Madrid first team earlier than anybody thought. He was really lucky.”
‘Luck’ can only take you so far though and Salgado was quick to point out the instant change he brought about when he replaced Rafa Benitez at the helm, a feat few inexperienced managers accomplish so successfully.
“The best thing he was able to do when Benitez left – and it was a complicated situation by then – was that he brought the dressing room together. The respect the players had for him was amazing so he brought some energy into the team and they were able to win the Champions League.”
While Salgado thinks their can be no doubting Zidane’s competency as a coach and lauds his achievements so far, he believes that judgement should be reserved until the end of his first full season as Real’s manager.
“What can I say? Only in your first five months, you win the Champions League with Real Madrid, it’s not easy to achieve. In his first five months, everything is new and he tried to put the style he wants.
“The second season was always going to be and has been a bigger test for him because he had the pre-season with the players. He had time to train with them and get to know them a little bit better. He had time to bring new players if he wants. When the second season ends, it will be the right time to judge him a little bit more.”
An end-of-season report card aside, Zidane’s immediate concern is Napoli’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
The former French international has defended compatriot Karim Benzema over his recent poor form ahead of the encounter but with Alvaro Morato to turn to, he does have a more than capable option waiting in the wings.
37 - @Benzema has provided 37 assists to @Cristiano Ronaldo, the most since the Portuguese arrived to Real Madrid (all competitions). Mate pic.twitter.com/aXnbXaNPRX
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 11, 2017
Salgado is of the opinion that his former team-mate will choose the best man for the job, regardless of reputation.
“The No.9 will be the one Zizou will play. Real Madrid is a team with 20-22 players in the squad and no one has the right to play just because he’s a name. All the players need to be really competitive and to get a place is really difficult.
“So if he’s not fit or ready to compete, I can imagine that Zizou will go with another player. It doesn’t matter if it’s Morata or if he plays with two up front or with [Cristiano] Ronaldo, it doesn’t matter.”
The argument to replace Benzema with Morata has always been largely based on the notion that the Spaniard is the more clinical finisher and a natural lone striker, a sentiment the two-time Champions League winner echoes.
“I don’t think Benzema is a nine. Even with Morata you can play with Benzema in the team as a second striker or on the wing because he’s a more complete player. He can link up play, he’s not a proper finisher. He’s got quality to finish but he’s not a proper, proper nine.
“Morata is more a nine. But I think both give you different plans. Benzema can give you different shapes but Morata is a more fixed nine.”
Valdebebas, training session ahead of Champions game against Napoli. Squad fully recovered, they look good pic.twitter.com/cqjXOxZMpL
— Michel Salgado (@TheRealSalgado) February 14, 2017
Despite the selection dilemma in the striking department, Zidane will be boosted by the fact that Luka Modric is fit and back in the first team. And having played with Zidane for so long, Salgado is well aware of the importance of such an influential playmaker in the side.
“In midfield, he is the player with the most confidence right now. He is the most creative player as well. What he brings into the midfield of Real Madrid is too much. It [having him in the team] will be a big, big boost.
“I think right now, if you compare him to the rest of the players in midfield, you can see the confidence he’s got. He’s a different player. He is the one to create, to make the transition from defence to attack. He’s a complete player. He’s good in defence and good in attack.
“He’s intelligent in terms of keeping the balance of the team. He’s one of the most important players, for me, after Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.”
