King Midas is back and everything Zinedine Zidane touches turns to gold. On Thursday, his Real Madrid team won the Spanish crown by beating Villarreal 2–1 thanks to a double of Karim Benzema in the penultimate round of La Liga matches.
The victory was the culmination of the longest Spanish season of all time after the stop of the coronavirus. In March, games were postponed before the league came to life in empty stadiums and biosafe environments. Even the celebrations of the Madrid name were a snapshot of the “new normality”, with confetti and commemorative t-shirts in the educational field of Madrid, but without the whirlwind of humanity in the famous fountain of Cibeles in Madrid.
In the midst of silent celebrations, Zidane was radiant. Over the past decade, the club has reaffirmed its strong ties and obsession with the European Cup, but in many tactics its supremacy on the continent is a repellent for its shortcomings at home and a league formed through Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona, especially after the game. . Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. This good fortune represents the third name of Madrid in 12 years. “The Champions League is the Champions League, but La Liga makes me happier, because La Liga is what it’s all about,” Zidane said.
In January 2016, Zidane entered the training phase for the first time at Real Madrid, succeeding Rafael Benítez. The Frenchman, the greatest madrid player of the fashion era, explained good luck as “winning everything”. He guided his team to a La Liga name and three consecutive Champions League trophies, an unprecedented achievement.
But this season is different. Atletico Madrid, Crosstown’s rival, beat Real 7-3 in New York city in a pre-season friendly. The press and fans have questioned Zidane and his plans. Did he have any plans?
Football isn’t pretty. Sometimes it almost defies the club’s DNA, built around the offensive prowess of star players. The coherent, forged and ruthless genuine. The victories came here at The Bernabeu, but a series of defeats, especially in the Copa del Rey and Champions League behind Manchester City, has sown doubt. Suddenly, Barcelona became the most sensible in the league. Then the coronavirus spread throughout Europe and the most sensitive leagues.
After the confinement, football was transformed, like Real Madrid. The team’s renewed concentration in an 11-game streak and the chance to win the league. Far from the tension of the Bernabéu, Real Madrid seemed liberated. “The lockdown is smart for us, to react and take our return very seriously: there is no margin for error in our minds,” Said Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. “What makes it different now is that after the lockdown, when they came back, they sought to do wonderful things. You can see it in the educational sessions, they sought to do more and that says it all.
Ramos was one of the team’s pillars, anchoring the baseline. He contributed to both ends of the field. His forays into enemy territory have been a figure in his career, but they have not ruined his impressively mature central defensive association with Raphael Varane. Zidane’s appearance has the most productive defense in the League, having conceded only 23 goals.
At the other end, Ramos scored ten goals. Benzema has 21 goals and is the team’s most sensible goalscorer. It illustrates the firepower of Real Madrid and, above all, the importance of veterans. Some were looking for Ramos, 34, Luka Modric, 34, Marcelo, 32, and Benzema, 32, to look more. It’s time to renew, they argued. Instead, Zidane not only rejuvenated his veterans, but placed them at the center of the team’s success.
Of course, those weren’t just long-standing pillars. In the first part of the season, Fede Valverde inspired the midfield before failing to consistency. In March, Vinicius Junior shone in The Classic, his purpose attesting to his meteoric rise in the game following his departure from Flamengo. New Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the most productive number one at the 2018 World Cup, kept 18 leaves clean. However, compatriot Eden Hazard disappointed after a season of injury.
Maybe it didn’t matter. Zidane’s formidable behind lag has earned him matches, achieving effects in the last 1-0 victories over Espanyol, Getafe and Atletico Bilbao. Even at The Villareal, it was not easy, but once back, Zidane surprised everyone and exceeded all expectations. In a short time and under the constant tension that accompanies a role in the elite game, he transformed La fortuna del Madrid and formed a ruthless team. His 11th has never been “galactic”, but this dissonance can no longer be questioned: Madrid continues to win and, according to Zidane’s valuation, this is his biggest win to date.
I’m an independent football journalist in Belgium. I have traveled to more than 20 countries to report on the match. This summer I went to Azerbaijan for Europe
I am an independent football journalist founded in Belgium. I have traveled to more than 20 countries to report on the match. This summer I went to Azerbaijan for the Europa League final, went to Spain for the Champions League final, covered the FIFA Congress and the early days of the Women’s World Cup in France and spent too much time sleeping. buses in Brazil the Copa America. Array gives a contribution to INSIDE World Football, World Soccer, Josimar, The Blizzard and BBC Radio’s Focus On Africa, among others. I’m also writing an e-book about my passion, the Brazilian team of the seventies. Graduated from Leuven Law School and J-School from Columbia University.