(CNN) — Zinedine Zidane’s second coming Real Madrid proved the Frenchman isn’t a wonder worker.
When he returned to the club for a second spell as coach, he was assumed to supply solutions to some crisis-ridden season.
By now Zidane was reappointed in March, two additional supervisors — Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari — had been gone in the blink of the eye.
Fast forward to the end of the season and Real Madrid had dropped 17 matches in all competitions and completed 19 points supporting La Liga champion Barcelona, making it the oddest Los Blancos side of the 21st Century.
Real dropped four of Zidane’s 11 matches in charge but his trophy-laden first spell gained him the benefit of the doubt with all the club board.
However, as La Liga kicks off Athletic Club beat Barcelona on Friday — doubts still linger over Zidane’s individual management abilities, his tactical nous and whether the success of his first spell had been down to 11 players’ human brilliance — especially Cristiano Ronaldo’s persistent goalscoring feats.
“I feel the major achievement of Zidane in the prior years was Cristiano Ronaldo and he is not in Madrid anymore,” Catalunya Radio journalist Ernest Macia informed CNN Sport.
“So now we will observe the authentic Zidane. The people here in Madrid stated:’The Real Madrid of Zinedine Zidane, it had been the Real Madrid of Cristiano Ronaldo.’ Now we will see how difficult it’s to handle, to master a dressing room such as Real Madrid — especially if results aren’t excellent.
“He’s a great deal of credit since he won three Champions Leagues, but it will rely not only on the outcome but on how Real Madrid plays. Unlike Barcelona, which is a club with a doctrine and DNA, Real is a team that welcomes cash to win titles”
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Pogba or Pogba
A turbulent pre-season — that has included a 7-3 thrashing to new-look town rival Atletico — along with Zidane’s ongoing feud with Gareth Bale has included yet more doubt to an already uncertain transitional period at the club.
It’s been reported that the Frenchman will keep both Bale and James Rodriguez in the squad against his own wishes, as Actual failed to land his No. 1 midfielder goal Paul Pogba.
Actual President Florentino Perez has been supposed to be a fan of this Welshman — coming to his defense on a number of occasions during his time in the club and James, and has allegedly clashed with Zidane over their future roles.
“Zinedine Zidane wanted Pogba at any price,” Macia stated. “If he was asked:’Okay, if Pogba is not possible, another participant?’ He explained:’Pogba.’
“Of course it’s a big disappointment if Pogba stays [in Manchester United], he’ll need to locate answers someplace else. He has been offered three of four unique options and he is not happy with Bale, who is a participant who makes a difference but he has hurt very often.”
Several new summer signings will also need the time to gel as well as Zidane has continued to show preference to what he views as his trusted older defender.
Karim Benzema looks set to begin the up front before new $60 million ($66.5M) striker Luka Jovic, although doubts remain as to the role summer marquee signing Eden Hazard will play.
To make things worse, Actual announced Friday that the Belgian superstar has sustained a hamstring injury and will miss Saturday’s season opener against Celta Vigo.
Stalwart Marcelo will likely be preferred at left back to arousing youthful signing Ferland Mendy, since will Raphael Varane in place of 50 million ($55M) registering Eder Militao to partner captain Sergio Ramos in the center of defense.
“I really don’t see them winning many more names,” Macia said. “In Europe they have big competitions, in La Liga they’ve Barcelona which is well settled. It will return to how Real Madrid develops this undertaking.
“With fresh players, particularly the signing of Hazard, and also the way they create the transition out of the older ones — such as Modric from midfield — and the novices. I think that Real has got the players to do it but I am not sure that Zidane is your guy.
“I think it will be very tough for him and his new time there will be more difficult than the past four decades.”
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Champions League ‘obsession’
With Atletico Madrid getting the largest squad overhaul — an exciting one — at Diego Simeone’s eight-year reign, Barcelona’s settled facet is the overwhelming favourite to keep its La Liga name.
The $120 million ($132M) registering of Antoine Griezmann from direct rival Atleti and the arrival of precocious talent Frenkie de Jong from Ajax has bolstered an already world class group.
However, Barcelona’s focus this year will undoubtedly be on the Champions League, a competition it hasn’t won since 2015 and has crashed out of in spectacular style the past two seasons.
After surrendering 4-1 and 3-0 aggregate leads against Roma and Liverpool, respectively, there is an increasing concern among fans that the club is throwing off opportunities for arguably the best player in history: Lionel Messi.
“After what’s happened in the previous two seasons, the Champions League has become the priority — I would say it is an obsession,” Macia stated. “In Barcelona we understand we have potentially the best player ever and that we’re squandering our time committing silly mistakes.
“In Barcelona we believe the Champions League is essential for this team. Not only because of Messi but because Barcelona comes with an unbelievable team.
“They’ve invested a Great Deal of cash in Griezmann and De Jong and possibly Barcelona has the best group in Europe, along with Manchester City.”
Barcelona’s pre-season continues to be promising, losing only once and showing signs that the new gamers are incorporating nicely into the programs of Ernesto Valverde, who himself is under stress this season after also losing the Copa del Rey closing.
But Barca’s defeat in Bilbao Friday suggested the Blaugrana may have a fight on their hands to acquire the title, while Actual won 3-1 away at Celta Vigo despite playing most of the second half with 10 men after Luka Modric was routed off.
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