Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane recently shared his perspective on the essential requirements for coaching success at the Santiago Bernabéu. Speaking on Hamidou Msaidie’s YouTube channel, the three-time Champions League winner emphasized that a manager’s longevity depends entirely on their ability to support and connect with the squad. Zidane suggested that Xabi Alonso’s recent exit stemmed from a fundamental failure to manage the team’s internal dynamics and secure the players’ loyalty.
According to Zidane, the former manager struggled to win over the dressing room, leading to a conflict that ultimately became impossible to resolve. He argued that the physical and tactical demands of the club only yield results when the athletes feel fully supported by the coaching staff. Zidane believes that a motivated squad, enjoying both training and competition, remains the primary catalyst for achieving historic milestones like his own European dominance.
The Frenchman’s tenure at Real Madrid serves as a testament to this philosophy, having led the team through 263 matches and securing five major trophies. He highlighted that his staff prioritized rebuilding player confidence and fitness during difficult periods to create a winning culture. Zidane concluded that without the players’ total agreement and respect for the system, even the most talented teams will inevitably fall short of their potential.
Zidane stated: “At Real Madrid, we were at the players’ disposal. For me, that’s what makes something strong—you’re there for the player. If you still don’t get it, you won’t be able to stay in this job.
“We’re here to help them; you need to let them know you’re here for them. For the dressing room to support what you want to do, they need to like us. If the players don’t agree with everything you set up, like the training and all of that…, something will always be missing.
“With us, they really enjoyed themselves on all levels, I think. We gave the players a lot of confidence. When they’ve had gone through a tough time and needed to get their confidence and fitness back, we set up a system so they could retrieve all of that again.
“When a player is really motivated, enjoys training, and is excited to play in matches, you’ll definitely win all three Champions Leagues.”
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