Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has a major problem to overcome ahead of his side’s Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool, according to a report.
Los Blancos, who are currently lying in third place, remain six points adrift of neighbours Atletico who top the table in Spain with Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona sandwiched between them.
After the two clubs were drawn against each other in the last eight in a repeat of the 2018 final, the Spanish press have attempted to play down Jurgen Klopp’s side’s credentials, declaring them to be not one of the “big coconuts” in this season’s competition.
While Liverpool have just had a weekend off, Real went into the international break on the back of a hard-fought 3-1 victory in Galicia over Celta Vigo.
Karim Benzema’s brace on 20 and 30 minutes put the visitors in command but after Santi Mina reduced the arrears five minutes before half time, Zidane’s side were left sweating on the final outcome until substitute Marco Asensio’s strike finally secured the points some four minutes into stoppage time.
However, the sole introduction of Asensio – who has again been linked with a potential move to Liverpool today – reflected a concern for the Real coach though with the Reds on the horizon, claims an article from Spain.
Writing in AS – the same publication whose wide-ranging interview with Mohamed Salah last December sparked outcry – Manu de Juan says that Zidane has no faith in his bench.
He declares: “Asensio came off the bench in place of Toni Kroos with 20 minutes to go… and, as far as substitutions were concerned, that was it.
“Zidane used only one of his five available changes, despite his Madrid side having to battle to the last to protect their lead at Balaídos.
“It’s a snapshot of a wider truth: Zidane has scant faith in his substitutes.
“Last term's late finish left precious little time to prepare physically for a 2020/21 season that has brought a spate of injuries, but he isn’t holding any of his regulars back; not even veterans like Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos.
“He’s picking his first-choice side game in, game out and entrusting them with getting the results Madrid need.”
The lack of rotation and limited faith in his reserve options may hand Zidane some difficulties with burnout as the season reaches the business end.
Especially with a crucial La Liga clash with Barcelona in between the two matches against Liverpool.
