Zidane's farewell and Real Madrid's butterfly effect
Zinedine Zidane's departure from Real Madrid was a foregone conclusion from the moment Florentino Pérez begged him to take the reins of the team. That gesture in March 2019 had an expiry date as that''s what the French coach wanted. His return was a favour to the president who brought him to Real Madrid in 2001 and who gave him the opportunity to lead the team in 2016. The three Champions League titles did not quite pay off the debt and Zidane had to return reluctantly.
Florentino Pérez has turned Real Madrid into a capricious club. A squad of world stars for whom not just any coach will do. Players who go from living in euphoria to sinking into the deepest depression. They drag the fans through these twists and turns, who go from swearing eternal love for them to asking to be sold in a matter of minutes. It can't be easy to preside over hundreds of thousands of cyclothymic souls or to lead a dressing room of egos accommodated to the warmth of an opulent contract.
Zidane is the coach of this Real Madrid. That of Ramos, Marcelo, Isco, Modric, Kroos, Varane, Benzema... because if the majority of these players are going to continue in the white colours in 21-22, Zidane is their coach. Zidane's sacred cows will never cease to be so. With them he won La Liga last season, won the Super Cup, reached the Champions League semi-final and will fight for La Liga. Ramos played at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea because Zidane could not leave the captain on. Marcelo was given minutes when his form cried out for a change. Reliance on Benzema has limited Mariano's goalscoring ability.
Zidane will go down in history with these players. A symbiosis of three Champions League titles that will be difficult to repeat. Not brilliant football, but appealing to the epic, to experience, to not giving up, to fight, to intimidate their opponents... to win with the shield. Zidane has tended the laurels with absolute passion. The ability to look Cristiano Ronaldo and Miguel Gutiérrez face to face and convey to them the same desire to win. That's all.
Florentino Pérez has every reason to clean out the dressing room. The players are holding on to their contracts, but time is passing and the club is not calling. The case of Ramos is the most obvious. With Zidane's departure, the centre-back from Seville is a problem for the next coach. He already vetoed Conte's arrival when there was talk of Mourinho. Modric and Kroos play to the Frenchman's tune. Playing in midfield unites because there is no other explanation for Kroos to continue at that pace and Modric has regained form. Benzema will also be another problem if Real Madrid sign a nine-footer with whom he has to share a penalty area.
Real Madrid's future exists. While the Superliga leaves us wondering if football is really ruined, the club has potential for a few years to come. Mid-term would be guaranteed, but a season from now the team would be seriously lacking in front of goal. As it has now. The cantera (youth academy) is asking for a step forward and the Brazilians don't look so big in the Real Madrid shirt. Any coach who could work with those players and bring Hazard back to his natural state would be perfect. Even better if he does that job with Mbappé or Haaland scoring goals.
Zidane closes a cycle. A self-made squad that no one else can lead. If someone is going to break that pairing let it be from both sides. A new white phase needs a name of its own. If it is not the goalscorers of the moment or the return of Cristiano, the best thing would be a coach. Florentino Pérez has learned from discoveries like Queiroz or Luxemburgo. Also from fashions like Lopetegui or Benítez. He has Zidane's replacement at home and his name is Raúl González... Blanco. Very white.
