In Barcelona, they wish for so-called substance – tiki-taka,
fluid and beautiful football even if you don’t win, just play to win hearts. It
sounds more like a bloody joker, whose ambitions are less. If he could put a
smile on the faces of people without giving them the ultimate joy, then his
work is done. We actually witness such jokers in the streets – a total fluff
from inside when the return is zero.
Someone like Zinedine Zidane, the manager of Real Madrid,
can demand the ideal combination of everything – he can ensure fluidity,
compactness and both of them, according to the demand of the situation.
Zidane knows very well what Real Madrid and her fans wish for – the
ultimate joy – the joy of winning big titles on big stages and not lose like a
joker when the stakes are higher.
After a rough start since his return to Santiago Bernabeu,
Zidane has instilled faith and confidence among Los Blancos and gradually, the
best club in the world has started impress. Zidane does not care about the
comfort of an individual club-legend, who always fails to handle pressure, nor
does he bother to alter his tactics even at the cost of star players. The Real
Madrid of Zidane is about playing for the team rather than creating a team on
the basis of just one player.
On Sunday, the boys of Zidane tightened the screw on
Barcelona after defeating Real Valladolid and went top of the points table.
Real Madrid was all about composure last night rather than Cryuff school of
football. One cannot say that Real were impressive, but at times they looked
dull. Still, they are grinding the results. And winning matters in
football. Certainly, winning hearts are for jokers. It is not the target of a
champion. And that is where Real Madrid is the best – they focus on winning. Entertainment
is for the kids.
Quique Setien is planning to inject the fluid football at
Camp Nou - at the potential risk of jeopardizing the team’s prospects in the
three main competitions this season, while Real Madrid are emphasizing on
winning – even if Real have to be dull and defensive, it does not matter much.
The night at Jose Zorilla was cold and chilling. Playing
your natural game would never be that easy. Both teams’ progress had been
scratchy. Real had the last laugh as they know how to achieve such.
Zidane opted for a 5-man midfield with Nacho filling in for
the suspended Dani Carvajal. Rodrygo Goes started on the wide areas with Karim
Benzema alone at the top. The first-half had been less eventful until Casemiro
headed the visitors ahead. But VAR ruled that goal out.
In the second-half, Rodrygo started to shine – consistently
cut into the box on the counter, which kept Valladolid back at bay. An Isco
free-kick threatened the Valladolid keeper, while a Benzema header missed
narrowly. Without a doubt, Benzema was well aided by his partner – Rodrygo.
Real controlled the play at midfield – Casemiro was tough to
overcome as usual and allowed Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to break the lines and
ensure authority. But the match was all about keeping things tight, which was
not enough to fetch full points. Zidane shifted to 4-3-3 when Isco was
substituted for Lucas Vazquez. Compactness was overtaken by more movements at
the center of the park.
Vazquez won a corner and with twelve minutes remaining,
Nacho Fernandez scored from a header. Then it was all about securing the goal
rather than getting adventurous. VAR’s stickler rules on offside ruled out a
Valladolid equalizer at stoppage time before that Mendy had to stop Sergi
Guardiola to overcome a sure goal.
It was a close-shave, but no damage was done.
Zidane praised his defence after Valladolid failed to
register a shot on target but said more creativity is required to ensure
struggling opponents are beaten more convincingly.
For us, nothing changes," Zidane said. "We are
happy with the victory, the work done having fought until the end, but nothing
changes. There are 17 games left and we will continue fighting until the end.
"I don't want to talk about being champions because
there is still a lot left to play. It changes nothing to be leaders, they are
three important points but nothing more.
"There are a lot of league games left and it will be
difficult for all teams, including us."
Real bagged full points and are now at the top. But still,
they are not secure enough. Zidane wishes to improve more.
Note:This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 27/01/2020 The Real Madrid of Zinedine Zidane go on top
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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