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It's not Zidane's fault that Jovic was a flop

  /  autty

It says something about how terribly fickle a section of the Real Madrid supporters are that they are systematically questioning a coach who has the best trophy rate in the history of the club; a legend that answered the club's desperate call twice and twice lifted the team out of a hole to make them champions; someone who knows better than anyone what Real Madrid means and what the club represents. But it's clear that not even an icon like Zinedine Zidane, a LaLiga Santader champion and one of the most (if not the most) decorated coaches in modern football, deserves the respect or credit of some permanently tense fans. Everything is easier on LaLigaFantasy MARCA.

Perhaps one of the reasons for all this frustration is the fact that Luka Jovic has been one of the worst signings in the club's history, based on performance, up until now. Some 18 months after his arrival for 60 million euros, his record of two goals in 32 matches makes talk of a waste of money unavoidable, but it's worth remembering that, when Real Madrid signed him, he'd just netted 27 goals in 48 games and, at 21 years of age, he was one of the most promising strikers on the European scene.

With Erling Haaland still not on the scene, the club also looked at Lautaro Martinez and Mauro Icardi and, as well as being expensive, both Argentines didn't fit the profile of Karim Benzema's backup that Real Madrid were looking for. They thought they had a nailed-on front three of Benzema, Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio. It's difficult to keep a good striker on the bench, even for Real Madrid. Alvaro Morata was the last one and, after scoring 20 goals in the 2016/17 season, he'd had enough and forced a move to Chelsea. He only lasted 18 months there.

Zidane is not responsible for Jovic's first-time failings. The Serbian and Mariano Diaz have scored eight goals in four seasons between them. The former has had very few opportunities but, when he has played, he's looked adrift from the team. The same goes for matters off the pitch: various injuries, breaking coronavirus rules in Serbia, having a barbeque with his mates in Spain when it was banned... He came to Real Madrid with a very big reputation and you have to have confidence that he will mature and get back on track.

In the meantime, there is a growing perception that the gap is widening between Real Madrid's youth policy and Zidane's use of players such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Martin Odegaard. It's as much to do with the French coach staying true to his old guard as it is to the youngster's timid performances when they get the chance to play. They need minutes to grow in confidence and to be able to make mistakes, but that consistency is only achieved with time and patience. And we're now seeing the little patience people are having in Zidane, despite him winning things.