OneFootball
·16 January 2026
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Yahoo sportsOneFootball
·16 January 2026
In a recent interview for Hamidou Msaidie's YouTube channel, Zinedine Zidane recalled his historic arrival on the Real Madrid bench in 2016. The French coach, architect of three consecutive Champions League titles, explained that the key was not only talent but a radical change in mentality and treatment towards the squad after Rafa Benítez's tenure.
Zidane confessed that he found a team with physical and emotional shortcomings. To reverse this, he met with the captains and posed a challenge: "If we played against Atleti or Barça in January, we would lose 100%." By convincing the players to return to the basics of hard work and group unity, the team regained its joy. "We made them run. Physical work was fundamental to rediscover their motivation," the Frenchman noted.

For "Zizou," the coach's role should be one of constant support. "At Real Madrid, we were at the players' disposal; if you don't understand that, you won't last in this profession," he stated. According to his vision, it is vital that the locker room enjoys training and feels that the coaching staff is there for them. This philosophy of trust and daily competitiveness was, in his words, what allowed that group of stars to end up dominating Europe.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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