Zidane is back. The French coach, who tested positive for coronavirus on January 22, returned on Tuesday to direct a Real Madrid training session in Valdebebas. Once the ten days of quarantine required by the LaLiga protocol and with a negative PCR, the coach is able to return in person at a critical time for the team.
In this way David Bettoni, second coach, takes up his usual role as second. In these ten days of absence Zizou He has had to direct a total of six training sessions, he has spoken in four press conferences (the ones before and after the games with Alavés and Levante) and he has been on the bench in two games (one win and one loss, with five goals for and three against). Although Bettoni has been the visible face during this week and a half, the truth is that all the decisions have been made by Zidane, who has been in contact with the squad telematically every day and also gave instructions during the course of the parties.
Despite the direct contact with his players through the different digital platforms, the presence of Zidane yesterday in command of the training was a joy for the dressing room. The union of the Frenchman with a large part of his squad (especially with the heavyweights) is total. Everyone, players and coaching staff, are aware of the delicate situation, with a month of January in which two titles (Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup) were definitively lost and another (LaLiga) was left with very compromised options . He trusts everything to the Champions.
Calendar
Madrid enters a key month, where Zidane has to hit the key if he does not want to relive the ordeal of two seasons ago, when the team reached the last months of competition without the option of winning any title. The Whites return to matches during the week, with six games in just 23 days (five in the League and one in the Champions League). Before the vital clash against Atalanta in the Champions League (February 24), Madrid have four league duels a priori affordable (Huesca, Getafe, Valencia and Valladolid). Straightening the course in the League is something that Zizou sees fundamental to arrive with guarantees to the Champions …