Reports in Italy claim that should Carlo Ancelotti lose the Champions League Final, Zinedine Zidane will be named as the new coach of Real Madrid. Stories had been circulating in recent weeks suggesting Zidane did not have enough experience to take charge at the Bernabeu. But Milan-based daily, Gazzetta Dello Sport say this is not the case, with the final tomorrow deciding his future. This seems quite harsh on Ancelotti ( He did win the Copa Del Rey ) but then the obstacle standing in Real,s way are noisy neighbours and recently crowned La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.
While a victory would taste extra sweet, a defeat would be a disaster-particularly one to their bitter cross-city rivals, who only have a fraction of Real,s finance,s. Ultimate responsibility of a defeat would fall at the feet of Ancelotti, harsh though it may seem. Relieving Ancelotti of his duties and hiring Zidane would not be a very wise move on Florentino Perez’s part and even if the unthinkable happens in Lisbon, Ancelotti should still be Los Blancos coach next season.
Ancelotti brings a level-headed calmness to the dressing room and he has certainly delivered the free-flowing, free-scoring football that is demanded in that part of the capital and his pedigree is unquestionable.
Zidane has not cut his teeth in club management and needs to get some much needed experience under his belt before taking on such a mammoth job. He has been linked to the Bordeaux and Monaco jobs this summer and with a few successful years managing at the top level, he could return to the Spanish capital at a later date, a more rounded,wiser, experienced coach. Zidane may be the future but Ancelotti is the now and if I was Florentino Perez, I wouldn’t change a thing.
