Extra life for Zidane

Playing under pressure at the Camp Nou will not alter Zidane's pulse. The experience accumulated by the Frenchman in these years on the bench of a club as demanding as Real Madrid has allowed him to assimilate these situations without becoming emotionally upset. Because, In the surroundings of the Marseille coach, it is insisted that he has prepared tomorrow's Classic without being disturbed by the strong criticism received or by the doubts that have arisen at the top of the club after the unexpected hits against Cádiz and Shakhtar.

Zizou is seasoned in the matter. Just a year ago, Madrid lost in Mallorca to a recently promoted team (1-0) and also came from two slaps in the Champions League that endangered qualification for the round of 16: an unappealable defeat in Paris against PSG (3 -0) and a surprising draw at the Bernabéu against the modest Bruges (2-2). The team went to Istanbul risking their future in Europe against Galatasaray. A defeat left him almost on the ropes and condemned to play the Europa League. In the club there were so many doubts that they came to weigh a drastic decision if that case had occurred. There were messages to Mourinho, at that time without a team …

But Courtois had a great performance and the team beat the Turks (0-1, Kroos goal). A therapeutic triumph that became a definite turning point. From there, Zidane's men changed their sad and erratic image and the team ended up winning League 34 and the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Only the Copa del Rey resisted them (eliminated against Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu, 3-4) and the Champions League, where they were again anchored in the second round after losing their two duels with Guardiola's City. But that tremendous comeback that Zidane made when all the guns were pointing at him, putting his future in doubt is what can explain the faith that a large part of the fans still have in him.

In the survey that As.com proposed with this question 'Is Zidane playing it in the Classical?', More than 50% voted no. Over an arc of more than 9,000 votes (9,103), 49.42% said “yes” and 50.58% said “no”. That and his 11 titles, with the unrepeatable three consecutive Champions League, place Zidane on a throne that is difficult to assault. Any other coach in this situation would be on an electrified bench and without that extra life that the French has. Zidane is Zidane. The fans still believe in him. This Saturday in the Classic and on Tuesday in the German field, against Borussia Moenchengladbach, we will see if the famous Zizou flower is really fresh, alive and bright.