Slight return

By Pete Reilly Source:Global Times Published: 2019/9/19 19:38:42

Zidane struggles to recreate Real magic


Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane reacts during the Champions League match between PSG and Real Madrid in Paris on Wednesday. Photo: IC



Zinedine Zidane is finding out that second comings don't come easy. The Frenchman's return to Real Madrid is not going as planned, with the 3-0 defeat to an injury-stricken Paris St-Germain side leading to fresh calls for his head. 

The visitors did have the ball in the net twice in Paris but both efforts were ruled out by officials. That meant that Real Madrid failed to register a shot on target in European competition for the first time since Opta began recording statistics in 2003-04. That 167-match streak is nothing compared to Spanish media's claims that this match ends a 578-game run across all competitions. 

Back in 2016, it all started so well for Zidane. After taking over from the sacked Rafael Benitez on January 4, 2016, the former Real Madrid No.5 won his first game in charge as manager 5-0 and also won his first meeting with El Clasico rivals Barcelona, ending the Catalans' 39-game unbeaten streak.

By the end of that 2016-17 season, Zidane's Real side had won the UEFA Champions League final, beating rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in Milan to become only the ­seventh person to win the trophy as player and manager. He also guided Real to within a point of Barcelona in the title race. 

He went on to win the next two Champions League finals to claim three in a row, an unprecedented run when no team had retained the trophy since 1990 and never in the Champions League era. Zidane also guided them to the La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup and a pair each of UEFA Super Cups and FIFA World Club Cups. 

Under Zidane, Real Madrid were the best team in Spain, Europe and the world so the bar was as high as it comes. Inevitably there was disappointment since Zidane walked away. First came Julen Lopetegui and then ­Zidane's former Real Madrid teammate Santiago Solari, with neither boss seeing out six months in the job. Zidane arrived in March to see out the season and was expected to lead a fresh on wresting the La Liga title from rivals Barcelona and returning to Europe's summit, for a record 14th time. 

In came Eden Hazard from Chelsea and several smaller signings, although not in price tag. Fullback Ferland Mendy joined from Lyon while free-scoring Eintracht Frankfurt forward Luka Jovic followed as did Porto's Eder Militao, Rodrygo from Santos and FC Tokyo's Takefusa Kubo. Hazard, Mendy and Militao started in Paris, with Jovic coming on from the bench but Zidane is still relying on players such as Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez - both who were expected to leave in the summer. It all looks rather disjointed.

The good news is that away form is somewhat meaningless in the Champions League. Three of the four semifinalists in last season's competition - Liverpool, Tottenham and Barcelona - have won only eight of their last combined 29 Champions League away games. Indeed, European champions Liverpool saw their defense of the crown begin with a 2-0 loss to Napoli this week. 

No one at Anfield is calling to replace Juergen Klopp, though. Zidane, for all his exploits as a player and manager at the Bernabeu, has no such luxury. It already seems a case of when rather than if he will be replaced at a club where patience is in short supply in both the boardroom and the stands.

Possible replacements

The bookmakers already have their own view on who will come in to replace Zidane and it is another former Real Madrid manager that is leading the way. 

Jose Mourinho has not returned to the dugout since being sacked by Manchester United in December. He has spoken of his desire to return to full-time management. He is a massive favorite to return to the role he inhabited from 2010 to 2013. Mourinho has unfinished business at the club - while he won the league title he was unable to assert his side's dominance in the Champions League. 

Just behind Mourinho is Mauricio Pochettino, a man long linked with the Real Madrid job. As a player he starred for Espanyol so he has ruled himself out of managing their city rivals Barcelona, so the highly rated Argentine is believed to be a Real Madrid manager in waiting. For now he is at Spurs whom he took to the Champions League final last season. That has been the pinnacle of the former Southampton boss' five years in North London, where they have also finished as runners-up in the Premier League, and many wonder if he can take them that step further or if he needs to move to find success. 

Germany manager Joachim Low has been in charge of the national team for 13 years, winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil along the way. He's the third favorite to take over from Zidane. However, the German's club career has no yet included a club approaching the size of Real Madrid. His biggest job to date was at Istanbul giants Fenerbahce for a season 20 years ago with the most recent stops before becoming Germany boss being Austrian sides Tirol Innsbruck and Austria Vienna. 

While Low would need to be convinced to leave the comfort of his job, former Juvenus boss Massimiliano Allegri is available after walking away from the Italian champions this summer. His time in Turin saw him guide the side to five Serie A titles in five years and league and cup doubles in the first four. He's proved that he can handle a big club but there was no Barcelona equivalent to threaten his side's dominance. 

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez and Leonardo Jardim, the Monaco boss who oversaw a run to the Champions League semi in 2017 are in the mix, as are former Real Madrid players Raul and Guti if the club sticks to the policy that saw Zidane hired in the first place. 

The other name on the list? A certain Juergen Klopp. He'd have to be real mad to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid.



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