I can't pretend to know why Zidane says what he says, but I would probably say the same thing. In part because the (rightful) criticism aimed at Benzema and Bale might be getting to them and Zidane want to keep the morale high with them. Another reason I'd say the same thing is that I would want the outside world believing I value them more. If we're getting rid of one or both in the summer this is the way to maximize the money we will get. But I don't know how Zidane thinks. Maybe he believes Benzema is better than Morata and that Bale is better than Isco. I certainly hope he doesn't
You make it seem that way when you cherry pick only one sentence of the quote. He followed that up with an apologetic: "They are not doing badly." And then more on the defense: "We are all in the same boat and we're here now. To the end it will be this way." before promising us roses: "Later in the next year we'll see." He could have also said that he doesn't think of it as an A and B team, but that we have the deepest squad in that world and that's he's very happy that everybody performs and contributes and thus is important to him and the club.
Me cherry pick? Zidane05 pulled that quote to make the opposite point, not me. Anyway, you guys are delusional if you think a calm confident manager like Zidane is going to start criticizing his starters in public while they are tied for 1st in the league and heading to the CL semifinals in less than a week.
But that's what he did. He could have said what @Zidane05 suggested or what I outlined, but instead he pretty much said "I've made my bed and now I have to sleep in it. It will have to be this way for now and maybe later I can change it".
I watched the press conf. He did not throw anyone under the bus.. What is clear and what continues to be clear to me is that the BBC+MCK is set for the big games when healthy. At the end he said, next year we will see if this changes.
I think Zidane is doing what a lot of managers do. Don't admit their mistake. The keep trying it their way even when its not working because making a change would be admitting they were wrong in the first instance. Or maybe he sees us sitting top of the league and in CL semi and says, dafuq are these guys talking about, I just win baby, why should I change, what I am doing is the best. I think he's playing with fire. Making one change (Morata for Benz) won't make him look wrong. Actually it will be the opposite. Oh and no matter what happens I wouldn't want him throwing any of our players under the bus. That's not his personality anyway so we good.
Zidane has done an A+ job in handling the press. The fact that he's been here for all this time and all of his press conferences are football related with no personal attacks of any sort is some sort of a record.
He seems to be more of the zip into a suitcase and throwing them into the boot and swallow the key type.
Yup, took care of the Isco/James/Ronaldo/Lucas outbursts after subs right after the game and snuffed them away. Also, no stories about dressing room frictions either. Full credit for that, one of the most stable periods in the club's recent history.
Zidane-as-manager = Kovacic-as-player Glaring imperfections in performance, but so much potential, and said imperfections can/should all be remedied with time and experience.
Just to be clear, if there was any doubt on the issue. Zidane: "I am not the person who will sit down CR7, Bale or anything like that. We discuss with the players & I always explain my thinking."
that means that the only person who will tell those two players that they will not start in big games is Florentino
The team sheet comes in with his name printed on. That way Zidane doesn't have to waste time writing it in.
He's putting pressure on Flo with this comment to get some leeway in squad selection. It can't be any other reason.
857936628156968964 is not a valid tweet id "How are you feeling? Are you tired?" "I feel f*cking awesome" What a boss
Zidane: " It’s just my way of thinking. It's not me who’s going to bench Cristiano or Bale, it's my philosophy. Sometimes we argue with players, I try to explain my way of thinking and then we all carry on as normal together." He's just trying to say it's not personal, it's a football decision.
That makes more sense. It would be quite shocking if he threw his biggest ally (Floro) under the bus like that. Sigh..... now he's talking about philosophy like this other manager we all despise. Somebody on TV made a point that Zidane still has a player's mentality. He thinks that big players play the big games like he did as a player. I hope we can win at least La Liga this year and then Zidane can maybe have a rethink over the summer. More likely is he sticks to his methods if we win another trophy.