Colombia boss Jose Peckerman says Real Madrid winger JAmes Rodriguez needs to be patient following the change in manager at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 24-year-old found his game time limited under Rafa Benitez and the pair did not see eye-to-eye. With the Spaniard having been replaced by Zinedine Zindane, the top scorer at the World Cup in 2014 will be hoping to impress his new boss and work his way back into contention.
Speaking to El Tiempo, Peckerman said Rodriguez remains a key member in the national side but need to be patient at club level. Zidane insists that the former Monaco player is very much part of his plans.
“Lately, we haven’t spoken, but we did speak around New Year. He had a lot of worries about the coaching change and he was anxious that the situation be resolved as quickly as possible because he remembered how the previous coaching change went. I had to calm him down,” he stated.
And he added: “He must be patient. He is unbeatable. He meets all the criteria. We all want him to be a starter and to be in that role with the national team as well. He needs to know that we need him to stay positive.”
