We take a look at the key news stories surrounding Real Madrid from the day including words from Zidane and Ronaldo
Zinedine Zidane has said that he is loving life as the coach of Real Madrid but has admitted that it is a “crazy” job. Zidane was named as France Football’s outstanding coach of the year yesterday, and the Frenchman more than deserves the award. The French legend won the Champions League in his first year with Real Madrid, and currently boasts an astounding win rate of 76.36%.
He also broke a long-standing record with Los Blancos, leading the club to 16 victories in a row and breaking the previous record of 15, which was set in the 1960-61 season. Madrid are also currently on a 39-match unbeaten run, and Zidane has only lost twice since taking over in January last year. Clearly, the Madrid legend is enjoying himself :
“I have an incredible opportunity, the chance to do what I love, savoring the winner. I did it as a player and I do it as a coach. Even if it’s a crazy craft. I live intensely in all that I do, every day, because I know that one day, it will stop. It is the job of the coach. But I do not think about that right now. I think of what I see today, because I enjoy myself,” he said, according to France Football.
Roberto Carlos has also spoken about the Frenchman, who he played alongside for 5 hugely successful years. Carlos feels that Zidane will one day be recognised as the best coach in the world, and that his career with Real Madrid speaks for itself :
“You can see the numbers…I can’t say anything. There are not many managers who have done what he did in one year,” the former left-back said, according to Goal.
“I wish him luck. He is working very well, with an incredible simplicity, modernity and training.”His staff help him a lot. He is ready to be the best head coach in the world in the future.”
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has been doing some impressive things of his own. The Portugese captain was crowned as the winner of the inaugural edition of FIFA’s “The Best” award just a short while after winning the Ballon D’or – which is now run exclusively by France Football.
The Real Madrid superstar had a brilliant 2016, after winning the Champions League title with Real Madrid and then leading Portugal to Euro 2016 glory. Ronaldo has been criticised in recent years and reports of some off-field troubles were rife in 2016, but he feels that he was unfairly portrayed and that he has now silenced any campaigns against him :
“There were many doubts, many campaigns against me from inside and outside football,” Ronaldo told Spanish radio station COPE, according to Sky Sports.
“They wanted to hit me from all sides and the truth is The Best was The Best and that is me, so I am very happy. They wanted me to feel bad, but as I have said ‘he who owes nothing, fears nothing in life’. As always, I have shut up a few mouths once again.”
“I have helped so many people and you do so many good things, but people want to hit you to camouflage the bad things that others do. It bothered me and it continues to bother me, but justice is always done in the end and so we are going to wait and see what happens.”
There is no doubt that Ronaldo has been a big force in helping children around the world, and despite his high profile he has undertaken several charitable activities under the public radar. Despite that, he has never hidden and the award for the Portugese international was more than justified.
In other news, Martin Odegaard finally completed a loan move to Herenveen. The 18-year old starlet signed for Real Madrid in January 2015 and was considered one of the most promising prospects of his generation. However, he has found it hard to break into a star-studded line-up at Real Madrid and has been forced to move on in search of playing time.
Odegaard’s talent is without question and the midfielder was always going to find it difficult to break into a side that always features superstars, but Odegaard himself says he has no regrets about joining Real Madrid, and feels the Herenveen loan can benefit him to no end. Speaking at his unveiling, Odegaard said :
“I do not regret my choice for Madrid. I have worked with great players and coaches and have become a better footballer. For young players, it is difficult with the big competition in Madrid to conquer a place and I have to play to get better. I had a great time in Madrid, in the dressing room was one big family. Everyone was very kind to me,” he said, according to the club’s official site.
A loan move was probably the best option for Odegaard given that at 18 he should definitely be playing first-team football given his talent. Although it is an 18-month loan, that is a small period in the grand scheme of things, and Madrid will be hoping that Odegaard comes back ready to break into the first team with Los Blancos.
