Zinedine Zidane's Real boost as he gets it right against Wolfsburg
Wednesday 13 April 2016 07:50, UK
We take a look at why Zinedine Zidane’s reputation as a coach went up a notch with Real Madrid's win over Wolfsburg.
An unexpected victory in El Clasico had people believing, but its importance was largely symbolic. It's progression in the Champions League that's the priority - the competition that has become an obsession for Real Madrid and represents their best hope of silverware this season.
With a remarkable turnaround win over Wolfsburg at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, coach Zinedine Zidane delivered. In doing so, his side became only the third in Champions League history to recover from a 2-0 deficit. No wonder he was delighted afterwards.
"It has been my greatest thrill as a coach," Zidane told Marca. "It was not simple - it might seem it was when you see the score but it was not. It is incredible after a 2-0 in the first leg. It's my best night as a coach so far."
Real's fledgling boss ranks this above the win over Barcelona and with good reason. For while the opposition were not quite so strong, that had been part of the problem in the first leg in Germany where Real were accused of complacency.
The detailed plan that had helped down Barca had been lacking. Summer signing Danilo was given the run around by Julian Draxler. The statistics showed that Real players covered an average distance of only 10.4km and their attitude was questioned.
It would have been easy for Zidane to panic in the face of adversity, but he got the response just right. Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo was the on-pitch driving force behind the 3-0 win on the night but his coach deserves credit for making amends.
Firstly, Zidane restored Dani Carvajal to the starting line-up - a tacit admission of his error in including Danilo for the first leg. Carvajal duly delivered an impressive display in which he assisted Ronaldo's first goal and played his part in the build-up to the second soon after.
Luka Modric had spoken of the need to attack and defend as one in the team's pre-match press conference and right-back Carvajal embodied that spirit. But it was the awareness of those defensive responsibilities that best highlights how Zidane got the balance right.
Instead of chasing the game and loading up on forward-thinking players - Jese, Isco and James Rodriguez were all on the bench - Zidane remembered that football is played without the ball too. "We know we've got a better chance if we keep a clean sheet," he had said.
As a result, he retained Casemiro in the starting line-up and the holding midfielder produced more tackles than any other Real Madrid player. Nobody in white won possession on more occasions. It was quietly effective. "Casemiro gives us balance," Zidane explained.
"He helps us out defensively. When we have the ball, we need to think about what will happen next and he thinks a lot about those things." His national-team coach Dunga put it more succinctly. "Someone has to carry the piano," said the Brazilian recently.
Zidane's recognition that a 3-0 win was the easiest way to get the job done is an encouraging sign. Ex-Real coach Carlo Ancelotti had said before the second leg that his former charge had ample experience of these high-pressure situations and it showed here.
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He'll need that savvy if he's to survive at Real Madrid. For while the talk of him being the club's answer to Pep Guardiola is flattering now, Zidane knows enough about the changing mood at the Bernabeu to appreciate that everything remains in flux at this place.
Champions League elimination might well have proved that point. The last time that Real Madrid failed to reach the final four, president Florentino Perez sought out Jose Mourinho and there had been speculation that it would have been the same story once again.
Such thoughts are likely to be put on hold now that Zidane has delivered two huge results in quick succession. Given that the newspapers were quick to talk of the 'Zidane effect' after home wins over Deportivo and Sporting Gijon, expect plaudits. But he must keep it up.
"Winning is fundamental at this club," Zidane had noted on the eve of this game. "The Champions League is the objective and it always will be." As the man who delivered the club's ninth European Cup with that volley in 2002, he knows the job's not done yet.
But he showed something in overseeing this turnaround. He showed willingness to address mistakes and control the emotions of the crowd. As a result, Zidane is now only three wins away from an achievement every bit as amazing as that volleyed winner 14 years ago.
