Zinedine Zidane’s surprise departure from Real Madrid shocked the footballing world, with the Frenchman having only just secured the club’s third consecutive European Cup. Rumours of a disagreement with president Florentino Perez are never far away, as Madrid now search for a coach to take them forward.
Joachim Low and Jurgen Klopp have been linked, whilst German newspaper Bild reported that Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann has turned down an approach. Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is among the favourites along with Arsene Wenger.
Pochettino only signed a new deal with Spurs last week, but still refuses to rule himself out of the running. “When Real Madrid call you, you have to listen to them,” he told Spanish publication El Confidencial.
“Although in this case it doesn’t depend on me. I have just signed a long contract with Tottenham and I am very happy here.”
If chairman Daniel Levy was to let him leave, then he would definitely demand a huge amount of compensation. However, it may be best for all parties concerned that the Argentine remains in North London.
Tottenham had finished sixth in the season before Pochettino took charge and didn’t have the same quality as he would inherit from Zidane. He has completely revolutionised Spurs in his four-year tenure and Madrid now require their own overhaul with numerous ageing players and their talented youngsters needing more game time.
The 13-times Champions of Europe have a number of issues including Cristiano Ronaldo’s future and Zidane has cited the transformation required as the reason why he thinks it’s a good time to move on. It wouldn’t simply be a case of continuing the unbelievable success at the Bernabeu.
The expectation levels are very different to Tottenham, as the board and supporters still demand them to win trophies during the conversion. “The strategic design was set up with intelligence and nerve,” said Pochettino in Guillem Balague’s book ‘Brave New World’.
”We only need one thing. I don’t know which shop to buy it from, but it’s essential: time!”
It’s something that doesn’t seem to be available at Madrid, whilst he wouldn’t be afforded the same amount of control. Jose Mourinho had to fight to gain more influence and it puts many other managers off the position.
The biggest obstacle for Pochettino would be his very specific philosophy, which he would struggle to impart on Madrid’s squad. He expects high intensity pressing without the ball and quick transitions to the attack.
Carlo Ancelotti and Zidane were both pragmatic in their approach and that gave the players freedom. Rafael Benitez lasted just six months when he tried to change the style and culture within the team.
“Some of them didn’t share our ideas but tried to adapt; others rejected them from day one,” Pochettino says in the book about Spurs. “A few disrespected us. And there were others from whom we couldn’t expect something they simply didn’t have in them.”
These methods are best suited to youngsters and although Madrid have invested heavily in this area, it would still need a number of egos to vacate. The ability to convince a side that they have to completely alter their process after three successive Champions Leagues would ultimately be too much in such a short period.
