This has been a testing season for Real Madrid and all know this. They have faced near-elimination from the group stages of the Champions League, still, advanced to the semifinals while in the La Liga, they were at risk of playing in the Europa League, still, they managed to keep the fight alive.
The credibility of the coaching of Zinedine Zidane has been questioned many times and his tactics received harsh criticism from the experts and fans, and, still, the French legend persisted with his game plan. One cannot say blatantly that Zidane has cut a sorry figure this season; rather, he has been able to make the Los Blancos play as a unit under pressure time and again.
Even though in a club like Real Madrid, success matters a lot, and the future of a coach heavily depends on them.
Whether Zidane would sit in the dugout next season is still dubious to many, but the World Champion is not worried at all.
Zidane was asked about his future in the press conference on Saturday, for which he gave an interesting response.
“This question is very boring. The truth is that there are two games left.”
“I don’t know what’ll happen. I’m here, we’re playing tomorrow and next week, but I don’t know what happens after that because this is Real Madrid.”
“I only focus on the present, not the future or the past.”
“People think I left in the past because I didn’t want the responsibility or because things got too difficult. No, never. The only thing is that I work my socks off and there comes a point when it’s time for a change.”
“But not just for me, for the players and the club, for everyone. I don’t leave because it’s easier to go. There are moments when you need to be around and moments when the end arrives and you have to make a change.”
“Today I am more proud because we have had many difficulties, that is why I might be more proud [than ever] this year.”
Zidane is just living in the moment.
“I am as I have always been because I do not know what will happen in two or three years.”
“I am delighted when I see my coaches training, although sometimes things get more serious. I am privileged.”
Real Madrid will need rivals Atletico to slip up if they are to gain top spot, but Zidane insists they can only focus on their own task.
“We just have to do our thing, as always. We are going to give everything, which is what we have to do,” he said.
“We look at what we can control ourselves. We are concerned about the opponents, who are very good.”
