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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 24 May 2018
Zidane's dressing room management key to Madrid's success

By TALES AZZONI In his first major head-
Associated Press coaching job, Zidane said
MADRID (AP) — Despite his he knows a united dress-
successes as coach of Real ing room alone is not going
Madrid, Zinedine Zidane to translate into victories
doesn't see himself as a unless there's also a lot of
great tactician. other work done, but he
Instead, he prides himself sees it as a crucial part of
on being a manager of a winning team. "Some can
egos. say that it's not a big deal
Zidane, who will be try- if the dressing room is not
ing to win his third straight working well, but it is, I'm
Champions League title telling you," the 45-year-old
as Madrid coach on Satur- Zidane said. "You may win
day against Liverpool, said here and there, but to win
he does his best work in consistently, the dressing
the dressing room, more a room has to be (united)."
shrink than a coach. After two-and-a-half years
"I spent 17 or 18 years as at the helm of Madrid, Zi-
a player and worked with dane said his team's dress-
many coaches and some ing room is exactly how he
gifted players who had big wants it to be.
egos," the former France "It's very good, it's united.
great said. "I know the Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane walks along the pitch during a training session during That's crucial," he said. "Tal-
dressing room and I know the open media day at the team's Veldebebas training ground in Madrid, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. ent alone is not enough.
very well how players think. Associated Press You can say anything you
That is important to me. want, but if you don't work,
"I'm not the best coach, I'm more." It's no small feat by Ramos, Marcelo, Gareth lic showing of discontent- you are not going to win.
not the best tactically," he Zidane to successfully man- Bale and Karim Benzema. ment even when Zidane And this dressing room has
said. "But I have something age a squad filled with Despite many strong char- had to leave stars such as talent and work. With these
else. I have desire and pas- high-profile players such as acters, there hasn't been Benzema or Bale out of the two things together, you
sion, and that means a lot Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio any major bickering or pub- starting lineup. can achieve a lot."q