Zidane’s promotion to the role of coach dates back to January 2016, a day after Real had twice squandered the lead in a 2-2 draw at Valencia, costing Rafa Benitez his job. Benitez was ruthlessly dispensed with at the first opportunity just six months after his appointment, but Zidane is still in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu despite a dreadful recent run culminating in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final exit at the hands of Leganes. However, the aura around Zidane — whose first two years were soaked in success — is such that he looks set to at least be given the upcoming Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain to prove he can still turn things around. Pochettino dismisses rumours of Real’s interest in Kane“If at the end of the year we win the Champions League it will be an incredible year,” Cristiano Ronaldo told Chinese football app Dongqiudi. Indeed they are five points behind third-placed Valencia, albeit with a game in hand, so can ill afford to lose on Saturday, especially with Villarreal and Sevilla coming up behind.

Source: The Express Tribune January 26, 2018 10:52 UTC