Real stars tell Zidane: "The best players in training are overlooked on matchdays"

Zidane is going through his first crisis as Real Madrid manager. After two years of non-stop success (with the club having won eight of the ten titles they have competed for during that time), 'Los Blancos' find themselves some 16 points off the pace in La Liga, with the club keen to get to the bottom of their struggles this season.

The crisis talks held by Zidane on Tuesday represent a first for the club under the Frenchman. The Real boss and his players were locked in discussions for over 30 minutes as they looked to get to the root of their problems and end their poor run of form this campaign, with the hope of going on to bigger and better things during what remains of the season.

Interestingly, it was Zidane that got the discussion underway, demanding more work from his players.

"I'm not blameless in all this, I can also get things wrong. The situation is critical," Zidane told his players, according to a report by journalist Edu Pidal on 'El Transistor'.

Several of the Real squad took advantage of the discussion to make their feelings known. The club's Spanish players naturally dominated proceedings, though the rest of the squad also chimed in after Dani Carvajal spoke.

One of the club's squad players raised the most delicate topic of the debate. With there being a feeling around the club that the players who perform best in training not necessarily the ones picked to play on a weekend, according to 'El Larguero'.

Zidane will have to be seen to act on this piece of criticism in the coming weeks, with it being by far the most direct of all comments made during the talks.

Cristiano Ronaldo had plenty to say. "Strength is in the mind and we have to transfer it to our legs. We have to stay motivated," he told his team-mates. Club captain Sergio Ramos also weighed in: "Everyone has to do their job, we have to change our attitude".

Real Madrid's first crisis meeting under Zinedine Zidane has taken place and the club will be hoping that there is no need for a second.

 

9 January 2018