Former Real Madrid player, manager and director Jorge Valdano has hailed Zinedine Zidane’s management and calming influence on the team.
The Frenchman took over the side in January when they were off the pace in the league and with plenty of reports of off-field issues and tensions within the squad.
But he had turned the season around with Los Blancos sitting just a point behind Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona with two games remaining and guided them into the Champions League final. They will face Diego Simeone’s side in Milan on May 28 in a repeat of the 2014 final.
Valdano spoke to Madrid-based sports paper AS to hail Zidane, saying: “The dressing rooms which have worked best are those which know how to manage themselves.You get the feeling that Zidane is being very intelligent, that he knows how to negotiate with the players, and listen to them. He has put in a good mood, even in press conferences.”
He added: “He does not waste words, he learned from [Carlo] Ancelotti, he can douse a controversy with just one sentence, and with a seductive half-smile, convincing and calming. That relaxed mood has been very good for Real Madrid. If the player feels listened to and accepted, his commitment multiplies.”
