With Real Madrid out of contention in LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, Zinedine Zidane must win the Champions League to be sure of keeping his job.
In the space of a fortnight, Real Madrid have seen their chances of winning three separate trophies go up in smoke: losses to Athletic Club and Alcoyano ended their involvement in the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, respectively, while LaLiga defeat to Levante at the weekend has left leaders Atlético Madrid an all but unassailable 10 points clear of Los Blancos, with a game in hand.
Zidane must win Champions League to be sure of avoiding Real Madrid sack
So now it all comes down to the Champions League: Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane’s future will be at stake in Europe’s top club competition. Only by delivering the club’s 14th continental crown will the Frenchman make sure he keeps his job next season.
The first hurdle in the way of that goal is a last-16 tie against Italians Atalanta in late February and mid-March. Before then, Zidane has 25 days in which to get his side ready, as he shapes his plan of attack for the seven games Madrid must negotiate if they are to lift the trophy. Expect plenty of squad rotation in the four league games - against Huesca, Getafe, Valencia and Real Valladolid - between now and 24 February. When Madrid meet Atalanta, Zidane needs his best XI firing on all cylinders.
Only one question mark over Real Madrid boss' chosen XI
Having made it clear he has full faith in no more than 13 or 14 members of his squad, there is just the one question mark over the make-up of Madrid boss' chosen line-up. Under normal circumstances, it would be Eden Hazard who accompanied Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio in attack, but if the Belgian continues to stutter, Lucas Vázquez may get the nod ahead of him, with Asensio switching to the left wing.
As for the substitutes’ bench, only players such as Federico Valverde (who has played 45% of Madrid’s game time) and Vinicius Júnior (47%) look likely to have a significant role.
Zidane likely to keep Ramos back for Champions League ties
Meanwhile, Zidane can be expected not to overuse Sergio Ramos in LaLiga, as the team’s figures when the defender has been absent speak for themselves. Five of Madrid’s eight defeats this term have been without Ramos in the team, and in the Champions League the stats are all the more striking: Los Merengues have lost eight of the last 10 games the 34-year-old has missed.
Real Madrid's record since Zidane returned doesn't bode well for European glory
In Zidane’s first spell as boss, Madrid lost 16 out of 149 games. Second time around, they have tasted defeat in 19 out of 90. All the indications, therefore, are that winning this season’s Champions League is going to be as tall an order as ever. Since Cristiano Ronaldo departed in 2018, Madrid haven’t made it past the last 16 and their only major silverware is last term’s unusual, coronavirus-interrupted LaLiga.
Winning the Champions League is now the only way Real Madrid will be able to look back on the last three seasons with any great degree of satisfaction.
kodbdklory
0
first defeat alcoyano 😂🤣
what should we do not
Muhsen_97
0
yes you are right so we have won more ucl than manu and great barca
For now lol
imme03
0
Puppy eyes aren't gonna work with me imme
Aight nvm lol
Pannas
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Thanks Liverpool can't win the champions league without kloop lol
yes you are right so we have won more ucl than manu and great barca
mk9drakku
0
winning what? say dat again.😂😂
vudelpstuy
0
@Af next time wen you mentioning Zindine Zidane full name please add some respect by saying Zindine Zidane AKA zuzu 🤣😂
boring
Syd007
0
Lol Juve have Ronaldo and got eliminate by Ajax so sad😂😂😂
both Ronaldo and Madrid are needed. Zidane+ Ronaldo+ Madrid midfield = UCL guaranteed
homadeluyz
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it would be nice elimination from UCL to europa league 😕
soerajd
0
Then delete this app cause it will never happen fake Madrid fan lol
calling me a fake madrid f off kid i watch this game even before you were planned and i was always a madrid fan
Riaadeim
0
If we get mbappe or haaland or both next season I wouldn’t mind him staying but he favorites benzema so much that we can’t buy them both while he is here. We already know we can’t win ucl this year with the lack of goals but we might have chance at league if athletico bottles it but seems unlikely
Like I said already he is not smart enough.loaning out all those young players and running around with those old players,,that’s why Madrid is struggling,,
Muhsen_97
1
Puppy eyes aren't gonna work with me imme
imme03
0
No!! [Hitface]
Muhsen_97
1
Please Muhsen😂
No!! [Hitface]
Muhsen_97
0
Please Muhsen😂
No! [Hitface]
Muhsen_97
0
Please Muhsen😂
No ! [Hitface]
imme03
0
Nahh I'm not doing that to amuse you 😂
Please Muhsen😂
Muhsen_97
1
I mean correct it
Nahh I'm not doing that to amuse you 😂
Muhsen_97
0
I mean correct it
Nah
imme03
0
The first word was supposed to be (And )😂 But somehow it changed to (thanks )
Write it again😂
Muhsen_97
1
No, but it was funny to read lol What did you mean?
The first word was supposed to be (And )😂 But somehow it changed to (thanks )
imme03
0
You didn't understand right ?
No, but it was funny to read lol What did you mean?
Muhsen_97
1
I love the way you write
You didn't understand right ?
Deuces1235
0
Say the guy who got eliminated by Ajax 4-1 at their own stadium
Even with Messi y’all can’t win any major trophy I just imagine sum day Barca without Messi 🤡
Abdisudais
0
I know only few people’s will understand what I was talking about,,I think his time for Madrid is coming to end very soon but hope he don’t get sacked this season he deserved some respect from Madrid,,
If we get mbappe or haaland or both next season I wouldn’t mind him staying but he favorites benzema so much that we can’t buy them both while he is here. We already know we can’t win ucl this year with the lack of goals but we might have chance at league if athletico bottles it but seems unlikely
Deuces1235
0
Say the guy who got eliminated by Ajax 4-1 at their own stadium
Our game vrs Ajax was a tight game, 4-1 home, 0-3 away 🤡🤡🤡😂😂
Riaadeim
0
Neither am I brotha I personally don’t like zidane because of his favoritism towards some players but the ucl he won were deserved but not the 2018 ucl but 2016 and 2017 was pure all him not luck.
I know only few people’s will understand what I was talking about,,I think his time for Madrid is coming to end very soon but hope he don’t get sacked this season he deserved some respect from Madrid,,
Abdisudais
0
I dent write any comments to insult you or any Madrid fans m not against anybody here but m only writing the facts about Zidane,,like I said already he is very lucky enough to win those trophies,,
But be realistic not any player wouldn’t need to get developed when zidane came because the team was stacked and in their prime. You develop players when you in need of competition for a position but that team didn’t need to get re placed
Abdisudais
0
I dent write any comments to insult you or any Madrid fans m not against anybody here but m only writing the facts about Zidane,,like I said already he is very lucky enough to win those trophies,,
Neither am I brotha I personally don’t like zidane because of his favoritism towards some players but the ucl he won were deserved but not the 2018 ucl but 2016 and 2017 was pure all him not luck.
Riaadeim
0
well he was one trophy away from winning treple in 2017 so your point is not valid. Agree with you of not being tactician like klopp and pep but not all teams need to Develop players to win for example bayern last year didn’t had to Develop any youngsters apart from Davies maybe because they had lineup already good enough to win the same for Zidane he didn’t need to develop any when he came. Lemme remind you that zidane won a laliga last year with rodrygo and vinicius on wings and velverde in the mid with either Kroos or modric beside him and mendy replacing Marcelo. The reason he loan out because Real Madrid is not like any other club it’s lots of pressure on you so you need to perform to be in the team
I dent write any comments to insult you or any Madrid fans m not against anybody here but m only writing the facts about Zidane,,like I said already he is very lucky enough to win those trophies,,
imme03
0
It's and at the beginning not thanks lol
I love the way you write
Muhsen_97
1
Lol how u get eliminated by Roma and want to play Madrid lol how old are u 😂😂😂
Say the guy who got eliminated by Ajax 4-1 at their own stadium
Abdisudais
0
U dent understand what m saying Zidane is not mentally strong enough to transform good players into best.that’s why he is using same old players like modric,Kroos and casimero in midfield all the time and sending young good players in loan.he know he won before with those players but he don’t know they are getting old because he is not smart enough to change things around.u know he only wins UCL most of the time not laliga,copa del Rey or any other trophies together because he have more luck on his side,,he is not smart like pep or klopp in terms of tactics or transforming players,,
well he was one trophy away from winning treple in 2017 so your point is not valid. Agree with you of not being tactician like klopp and pep but not all teams need to Develop players to win for example bayern last year didn’t had to Develop any youngsters apart from Davies maybe because they had lineup already good enough to win the same for Zidane he didn’t need to develop any when he came. Lemme remind you that zidane won a laliga last year with rodrygo and vinicius on wings and velverde in the mid with either Kroos or modric beside him and mendy replacing Marcelo. The reason he loan out because Real Madrid is not like any other club it’s lots of pressure on you so you need to perform to be in the team
Riaadeim
0
The only manager that you can say achieve that milestone was only mourinho who won it with Porto and treple with inter so basically every coach need top players.
U dent understand what m saying Zidane is not mentally strong enough to transform good players into best.that’s why he is using same old players like modric,Kroos and casimero in midfield all the time and sending young good players in loan.he know he won before with those players but he don’t know they are getting old because he is not smart enough to change things around.u know he only wins UCL most of the time not laliga,copa del Rey or any other trophies together because he have more luck on his side,,he is not smart like pep or klopp in terms of tactics or transforming players,,
Deuces1235
0
You guys didn't play against us in the champions league
Lol how u get eliminated by Roma and want to play Madrid lol how old are u 😂😂😂
Muhsen_97
1
It's and at the beginning not thanks lol
Muhsen_97
0
That's because we had Ronaldo.
Alert..... this guy is a Fake juve fan
Muhsen_97
0
We won it 3 times with city , Bayern, Liverpool, Barca and PSG in it lol
You guys didn't play against us in the champions league
Abdisudais
0
Yes pep won with academy players and zidane can win only buy world class from top to bottom,,
The only manager that you can say achieve that milestone was only mourinho who won it with Porto and treple with inter so basically every coach need top players.
Abdisudais
0
Yes pep won with academy players and zidane can win only buy world class from top to bottom,,
Academy players that were already world class when he came. He didn’t create them so still he didn’t do nothing without world class players. If what you are saying is true why didn’t he win something with Bayern and spend triple the amount zidane spend in man city and couldn’t win shii.
Abdisudais
0
Only way zidane can win another UCL is either buying world class player or with luck but he can’t do that with average players or academy players,,because he is not mentally smart enough to turns things around like pep or klopp,,that’s what m saying,,
Zidane might not be tactician but he needs good attacker that score 30 or 40+ goals and in consistency because that’s what he is lacking right now. Look at his attack compared to top European teams right now. He has injury prone asensio and hazard and little youngsters who don’t got experience to score big teams and benzema who is not real striker and so inconsistent. He might win the league with them but not ucl as you need big game player
Riaadeim
0
😂 well it’s not only zidane is it?😂😂 not even one single manager in world football can win it with average players😀😂so I guess by that logic no one is winning Europe with average players😂 example did flick,klopp, Enrique, guordiola sir Alex ever won ucl with average players. They all had world class players when they won.
Yes pep won with academy players and zidane can win only buy world class from top to bottom,,
Abdisudais
0
Only way zidane can win another UCL is either buying world class player or with luck but he can’t do that with average players or academy players,,because he is not mentally smart enough to turns things around like pep or klopp,,that’s what m saying,,
😂 well it’s not only zidane is it?😂😂 not even one single manager in world football can win it with average players😀😂so I guess by that logic no one is winning Europe with average players😂 example did flick,klopp, Enrique, guordiola sir Alex ever won ucl with average players. They all had world class players when they won.
Deuces1235
2
That's because we had Ronaldo.
What happened with Juve when they had Ronaldo they past 2 seasons 🤔🤔😂😂
Deuces1235
2
They won't win it 😑 as long as man city , Bayern and Liverpool are in the champions league they won't win it
Lol Juve have Ronaldo and got eliminate by Ajax so sad😂😂😂
Riaadeim
0
😂 isn’t it every team that ever won a ucl. U can’t win ucl without top players and a little bit of luck
Only way zidane can win another UCL is either buying world class player or with luck but he can’t do that with average players or academy players,,because he is not mentally smart enough to turns things around like pep or klopp,,that’s what m saying,,
NgaiShing
1
We won it 3 times with city , Bayern, Liverpool, Barca and PSG in it lol
That's because we had Ronaldo.
Abdisudais
0
Only few Madrid fans will agree with me.Zidane wins all those trophies only because of big time players and luck,,
😂 isn’t it every team that ever won a ucl. U can’t win ucl without top players and a little bit of luck
imme03
0
Thanks Liverpool can't win the champions league without kloop lol