THIS LOOKS A REAL CRISIS FOR ZIDANE

TAKING nothing away from Tottenham, who were magnificent on Wednesday, but something is clearly not right at real madrid. cristiano ronaldo’s influence cannot be underestimated and maybe he is not the force he was last season. Perhaps, having become the first club to retain the champions league in its modern format, the players are sated by success. The team looks as if it could do with an overhaul; fresh blood; new faces. Sir alex Ferguson built and stripped down three great teams at manchester United. Zinedine Zidane has most certainly earned the right to do this at least once at madrid, too. The club’s history, however, suggests he will not be given the opportunity; that one disappointing season will be his last. It seems wrong, but it is the madrid way.