Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane has said he is not thinking of staying at the club long enough to become the club’s Sir Alex Ferguson.
The manager is speaking after Madrid’s 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday that guaranteed the Galacticos their passage to the second round. Courtesy of the victory, Madrid topped the group and it appeared that his job was saved.
“I’ll never be Madrid’s Sir Alex Ferguson, that’s for sure. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, so I don’t even think about it. I think about the day-to-day and how lucky I am to be here at this great club,” Zidane said in his post-match news conference on Wednesday night.
Zidane was reportedly on the brink of a sack after recording one win in five games as he struggled in La Liga and in Europe. He looked to have turned a corner with a 1-0 victory away at Sevilla before the 2-0 win over the Bundesliga side.
The German team progressed with the Galacticos while Inter Milan got eliminated from the competition after playing a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian champions head to the Europa League.
Can Zidane replicate Ferguson at Madrid?
With the back-to-back wins, Madrid’s season looked to be back on track. They will need to prove this further when they play Atletico this weekend.
Zidane has been in charge of Madrid for four years in two spells. As he continues to guide the side, it hs made many to believe he could follow the footstep of Ferguson, who spent 26 years as manager of Manchester United.
“I like it, even in complicated moments, not just when we win. But I don’t know for how long. I’ve already been here a long time, in Spain, in Madrid, and I want to stay a bit longer,” he said.
Madrid produced a convincing performance against Monchengladbach as a brace from Karim Benzema were enough to secure victory for the Les Blancos. The hosts through Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez were also denied by the woodwork.
Zidane expressed satisfaction over the outcome as it eased the pressure of an up-and-down Champions League campaign that had left Madrid on the brink of a first-ever group stage exit, after home and away defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk.
“It’s a huge satisfaction. That was the target, to try to finish first, and we did it. We played a spectacular game on every level from the first minute to the last.
“We’re all in the same boat. I’m happy for the players. They’re the most important, I’m here fighting with them, but they’re the ones fighting… It was fundamental [to finish top], so important,” Zidane said.
💬👔 #Zidane: "Muy contento por el partido. Había que sumar y terminar la ronda como primeros de grupo." #RMUCL | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/7yR5iKPYNu
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 9, 2020
Since Madrid had finished on top of group B, it means they could meet either RB Leipzig, Lazio, Atalanta or Porto in the Champions League last 16.
This gives them the opportunity to avoid tough opponents such as last year’s winners Bayern Munich and finalists Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City.
