Zinedine Zidane, Former Real Madrid footballer
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane is back in management and is set to take charge of his first match with the France national team tomorrow night.
Having replaced Didier Deschamps as the Les Bleus head coach, Zidane will manage his first game tomorrow against Turkiye in the UEFA Nations League.
Ahead of the match at the Kocaeli Stadium in Izmit, the former Real Madrid player and coach addressed the media in a press conference.
Update on Kylian Mbappe
Leading up to the game, Real Madrid superstar and France captain Kylian Mbappe missed one of the team’s training sessions due to illness.
And, for today’s press conference, Zidane was accompanied by vice-captain Adrien Rabiot instead of the forward, leading to some concerns about his availability for the game tomorrow.
However, Zidane eased those fears, confirming that all was well with Mbappe and that he would be ready to play against Turkiye.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Mbappe will be fit and ready insists Zidane. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
“The obligation is a player and the coach. It was Rabiot today,” he said, as quoted by RMC Sport, when asked about Mbappe’s absence from the press conference.
“Kylian is fine, he had a minor setback but nothing serious, he will be ready to play tomorrow,” he added, issuing an update on the Real Madrid attacker.
During the press conference, Zidane also reflected on his journey with Mbappe, having first noticed him at a trial with Real Madrid back in 2012 to now coaching him with the national team.
“What I saw in him was his potential when he came for his trial at Real Madrid. Everyone was excited about the idea of seeing him play for Real Madrid. It didn’t happen, and we know the rest of the story,” the legendary Frenchman stated.
Praise for Arda Guler
Arda Guler of Real Madrid
Arda Guler will face Kylian Mbappe’s France. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Zidane also reserved some praise for another Real Madrid player, Arda Guler, who will be coming up against his France team tomorrow.
The Turkish playmaker has made a strong start to the season under Jose Mourinho and Zidane highlighted his personality, saying:
“Arda is a very great player. He has a lot of personality. I’m happy for him and Real Madrid.”
Come tomorrow, it will be Mbappe vs Guler in Turkey, as Zidane prepares to take charge of his first-ever match as the France manager.
Barcelona director happy to see Mourinho back at Real Madrid: ‘One of the best coaches in history’
Deco, Barcelona director
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
During his appearance at the Portugal Football Summit, organised by the Portuguese Football Federation, FC Barcelona sporting director Deco hailed Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as ‘one of the best coaches in history’.
The 49-year-old former midfielder played under Mourinho at FC Porto, making over 100 appearances and winning several trophies, including the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Deco happy to see Mourinho at Real Madrid
Addressing the media, the Barcelona sporting director insisted that he was happy to see his former mentor being back in La Liga, even if it was at a rival club.
“It’s good to have him in the Spanish League, as an opponent he’s more complicated, but I’m happy,” said Deco, as quoted by AS.
Deco and Jose Mourinho
Deco previously played under Mourinho at Porto. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Praising Mourinho as well as hailing Real Madrid as one of the best clubs in the world, the Barça sporting director added:
“I’m happy for him, because I think he’s one of the best coaches in history, he’s at Real Madrid, with the best clubs in the world, it’s good, it’s a great challenge for everyone.”
On Real Madrid’s refereeing complaints
During the interaction, Deco was also asked for his thoughts about the refereeing in La Liga and the complaints being made by Mourinho and Real Madrid, especially after their recent 2-1 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Instead of directly addressing the matter, the Barça director insisted that they were only focused on themselves, while stating that the referees and the VAR are bound to make some mistakes every now and then.
“It doesn’t worry us. I think we have to look at ourselves,” he said.
Jose Mourinho, Manager of Real Madrid
Mourinho has aired his displeasure with the refereeing in La Liga. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“Obviously, there will always be controversial refereeing decisions, there will always be favorable decisions, sometimes for one team and sometimes for the other, and sometimes I don’t think it’s proportional.”
Continuing, he added: “I think it’s something that referees lose; it can happen at any time. There’s VAR, which came to correct many things, but at the same time, sometimes it doesn’t.
“In short, controversial refereeing decisions will continue to exist; it’s a historical thing in Spain, in Italy, and everywhere. In short, we’re not going to be the ones to end up changing this.
“I think transparency, that things are clear, is always important, but I don’t get involved in that. We at Barcelona look at ourselves. We’re always going to do what’s within our reach, try to improve every day. I can’t comment on what happens on the other side.”