16 days for the Etihad assault

“Now is the time to relax, to rest a bit because the final stretch has been a tremendous effort for everyone. We are going to rest for a few days and that is what we are going to do. Then we will have about 10 days to prepare for the return match” . In the bowels of the Municipal stadium of Butarque, moments after closing the 2019-20 season, Zidane outlined his plan to face the return match of the maximum continental competition against Manchester City. The Frenchman, proud of the performance of his players in this final stretch of 11 games in just over a month (10 wins and a draw that has helped him lift his 34th League), knows that his players need a break before returning. to put on his boots. For this reason he has given them a week off: “Be careful, it is not a vacation!”, He explained in the press room of the Leganese stadium. Some already took advantage yesterday to leave Madrid.

The idea is that the players return to Valdebebas next Monday, to start preparing for the match against the team. citizen. To achieve the victory (no other result is useful) in Manchester, Zidane has three doubts and a very important low, confirmed, that of Sergio Ramos, sent off in the first leg. The first two doubts are tactical in nature: the first lies in knowing if he is aligning Marcelo (is recovering from a muscle injury in the left adductor) or Mendy in the left-back position. Curiously, if he bet on the Frenchman, he would repeat the lag with which Madrid debuted in the Champions League this season against PSG (Carvajal-Varane-Militao-Mendy). But with one caveat, Mendy has been released offensively in this last league stage, while Marcelo brings his seniority and experience in this type of game.

The second is also another tactical decision: if you bet on the presence of Isco (I would play with four midfielders) or by the presence of Asensio. In the event that he bet on the Balearic, he would play by entering on the right wing, to take advantage of his diagonals and thus create danger.

The third unknown is physical and affects Hazard and how the Belgian will get to the European event: Eden has shown details in what has been played during the season, but he lacks a solid and complete performance in a match of lineage. Zidane explained his state in Leganés: “We are going to take care of him among all, especially the physios. He has had discomfort lately when he has played. Hopefully with this time we have until the game he will fully recover to face the Champions League.” Because Zizou is clear: “How can I not think we can come back against City! We are going to fight the pass until the last second.”

Until now, Zidane has contested nine European qualifiers, beating all of them. Of those nine games played far from the Bernabéu, his data is formidable: he has six wins (among them he won in Rome, Paris, Naples and Munich) and two defeats. They also tied another: (0-0) against City at Etihad …