Zidane gets extension
Real Madrid chief coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Saturday that he had reached agreement with the record European football champions to extend his current contract for a further three years.
The Spanish sporting press published the story on Saturday morning and, although the news was not made official by Real Madrid, Zidane was asked about the deal in his lunchtime press conference before Sunday’s first leg of the Spanish Supercup away to FC Barcelona in the Camp Nou Stadium.
In a season and a half in charge, Zidane has led Real Madrid to the Champions League on two occasions, as well as last season’s La Liga and this season’s European Supercup, after beating Manchester United 2-1 on Tuesday.
In his reply, he said the length of the deal was not as important as maintaining results.
“I could have signed for 10 or 20 years, but I know where I am. Here you live day by day, and it could well be that I am not here in a year,” said Zidane.
However, although he showed a refreshing display of the realism which has characterised his time as first team coach, Zidane said he was “happy for the confidence shown in me and for having worked well”.
“Our objectives will be the same, we know what club this is and the great thing is that we enjoy this job. There will always be ups and downs, but we are in such a good moment that we are enjoying it a lot,” he said. – IANS