Zidane says Bale ‘vital’ to success
New Real boss has work cut out in reigniting team
Gareth Bale’s future at Real Madrid appears secure after new coach Zinedine Zidane heaped praise on the Welsh winger on Tuesday.
BalejoinedRealinmid-2013 for a world record transfer fee of $101 million, but has struggled at times in the Spanish capital, battling injuries and a lack of confidence in living up to his huge contract.
Despite renewed interest from Manchester United, the 26-year-old was recently thriving at Real under Rafael Benitez, and Zidane moved quickly to reassure Bale the former Chelsea and Liverpool manager’s dismissal would not affect him.
“I can understand that he might feel aggrieved by Benitez’s departure, but I will show him the same affection that Rafa had for him,” Zidane said athisfirstmediaconferenceas Real coach, just a day after being appointed by president Florentino Perez.
“He’s a vital player team.”
Zidane, a former star player with Real whose stunning winning goal against Bayer Leverkusen earned the club the 2002 Champions League title, played down comparisons between himself and Pep Guardiola, a former Barcelona coach.
Guardiola was also a star player in the Catalan capital before becoming the team’s most successful bench boss during a trophy-laden four years in charge at Camp Nou.
“Guardiola is Guardiola, he’s an incredible coach but I’m not going to compare myself to him,” said 43-yearold Zidane.
Earlier in the day, thousands of fans turned out to watch Zidane take his first training session with Real’s current Galacticos, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema.
Zidane is tasked with lifting the club out of a year-long slump that has seen it burn through two Champions League-winning coaches in Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti.
Real sits third in La Liga, four points behind leader Atletico Madrid and two points behind eternal rival Barcelona, which has a game in hand.
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Benitez took responsibility when Real was recently booted out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player, but it is still in the Champions League, facing Roma in the last 16 next month.
And Zidane insisted his aim is firmly focused on a trophy.
“This is a difficult but stimulating challenge; I want to take up the challenge and do my utmost to win titles,” he said.
“I’m at the best team in the world,” said the Frenchman, who played for the club between 2001 and 2006.
“Our objective is to win. We have two titles that we can win and we will try our best to do that,” he said in reference to the Champions League and La Liga.
All eyes will now be on whether Zidane has the temperament and tactical ability to gel Madrid into a trophywinning unit.
Key players such as Benzema and James Rodriguez often showed their disgust when substituted by Benitez.
Off-field distractions also took their toll, with Benzema facing blackmail charges over a sex tape of France teammate Mathieu Valbuena, and Rodriguez accused of speeding at up to 200 kph last week.
Zidane is not known for his communication skills and had a fiery temperament on the field as a player. His career ended with an infamous headbuttonMarcoMaterazziinthe 2006 World Cup final between France and Italy.
But unlike Benitez, he is widely thought to be respected by Madrid’s players and is certainly adored by its fans.
The man who will become his chief rival, Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, said the change in coaches at Real was to be expected.
“I’m not surprised, it’s a regular subject in modern football,” said the former Roma coach.
“The chain always breaks at the shortest link and this link is the coach.
“All coaches at some point in their careers are sacked. It’s a risky profession.”
And Spanish media said Zidane has his work cut out because of his lack of experience. He has only spent a season and a half in charge of Madrid’s feeder team Castilla, which failed to secure promotion from Spanish soccer’s third tier last season.
But Zidane has the advantage of knowing the players well — he was Ancelotti’s deputy in 2013 and 2014 — and having their respect.