Rafael Benitez has been dismissed as manager of Los Blancos after only seven months as manager, but does the decision to sack the former Liverpool coach and replace him with Zinedine Zidane make any sense?
Why was Benitez sacked?
President Florentino Perez did not expand upon the decision to dismiss Benitez during his media conference at the Bernabeu on Monday evening, but some of the reasons have been well cited by various reports before Perez made his “difficult” decision following a board meeting.Benitez fell out with various players most notably Cristiano Ronaldo, James and IscoReal Madrid were drubbed 4-0 by bitter rivals Barcelona in NovemberHe was blamed for club being thrown out of the Copa del Rey despite being faultless in selecting the ineligible Denis Cheryshev, who was suspended for match with CadizThe club occupy third place in Liga, and are four points adrift of BarcaThe club lacked a style of play that was in keeping with the expectations of the fans especially witnessing the manner in which Barcelona dismantled themBut as Spanish football expert Guillem Balague writes today:”The fact that things haven’t been working as a team for many years, and that the team was full of egos working for themselves, was very frustrating to those players who wanted to work as a team. Real were starting to show signs of functioning as team, but in the end Rafa hasn’t been allowed to finish the job he started.”
Real Madrid confirm Benitez sacking, Zidane appointed new coach – EurosportFULL NEWSPAPER REACTION: Zinedine Zidane finally gets top job’ – Papers react to Real Madrid sacking Rafael BenitezSTORY: Zinedine Zidane targets trophies in his first season at Real MadridSTORY: Real Madrid confirm Rafael Benitez sacking, Zinedine Zidane appointed new coach
What does Zidane offer that Benitez didn’t?
Apart from a fresh pair of eyes and an immaculate record as a player at the club, there is little to suggest Zizou will be a sparkling success. He has coached the club’s B team in Spain’s third league since 2014 while he was also part of Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff that won ‘La Decima’ and a 10th European Cup against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon two years ago. His promotion will be compared to PepGuardiola’s at Barcelona, but such comparisons are surely unfair.
Zinedine Zidane with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez – AFPIt could be best described as a calculated risk, but the chance to appoint the most famous Galactico as coach appears to good a chance for Perez to resist. Zidane must try to win trophies with style, but this is a task that has eluded men such as Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez in the post Zidane suddenly holds.
Zidane’s most notable moments
Key figure in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning sideJoined Madrid from Juventus for then world record £45.8m in 2001Scored one of best goals in Champions League history in 2-1 final win over Bayer Leverkusen in 2002Won La Liga in 2003 and was named FIFA World Player of Year for third time in same yearRetired as a player after being sent off for infamous headbutt onMarco Materazzi in the chest in France’s loss to Italy in 2006 World Cup final yet was named tournament’s best player
Could Benitez’s departure signal the end forGareth Bale in Madrid?
There are suggestions that Gareth Bale’s future may now be in doubt after Benitez’s dismissal with Manchester United apparently interested in the Welsh forward.
Bale, Real Madrid – AFPAccording to Matt Law, writing in the Telegraph:”Gareth Bale has been left devastated by the decision of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sack Rafa Benitez in a move that could place a question mark against the Welshman’s long-term future at the club. Benitez has been replaced by Zinedine Zidane and Bale, like a host of other Real players, is now waiting to see where he figures in the French legend’s plans.But Bale is understood to be particularly upset by the departure of Benitez, who he was thriving under at the Bernabeu, and is likely to seek reassurances over his role moving forward.'”
Our view
It is a complete shot in the dark by Perez in appointing Zidane, and one that appears difficult to agree with. Great for selling shirts, but there is no real thought process that suggests he should have been appointed as head coach of one of the world’s leading club sides at this early juncture of his career in management. Like Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, he may in time prove all the doubters wrong, but it would be wrong to compare him to the Bayern Munichcoach who was brought up and through the system at Barcelona before inheriting the top job. Zidane knows what it is to be a Real Madrid player, but not a coach. One thing is certain out of this latest pantomime: Benitez should have been given more than 25 games as coach.
Author: EuroSport
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