Former Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has hailed Real Madrid for re-hiring Zinedine Zidane after only a few months since he left the Bernabeu. While Real Madrid was going through the tough spell that saw them fire two managers, Jose Mourinho was among the favorites to land the job and the Portuguese coach has charged the Frenchman to show how good he really is.
Now, the former Porto manager Jose Mourinho has described the reunion of Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid as “perfect”. The Frenchman made a sensational return to Santiago Bernabeu, getting the nod ahead of the Portuguese, who has nonetheless endorsed the move.
Having coached the Spanish giants between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho had been linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu to replace Santiago Solari, who was sacked following Madrid’s Champions League exit at the hands of Ajax.
Former club chief Ramon Calderon revealed to Love Sport Radio that president Florentino Perez preferred Mourinho, but pressure from the senior leaders in the Madrid locker room, including captain Sergio Ramos, swayed him towards Zidane.
The Portuguese, who was dismissed as Manchester United manager in December 2018, has given Zidane his endorsement by backing the Frenchman to “show how good he is.” During his 28 months in charge between January 2016 and May 2018, Zidane led Madrid to three straight Champions League titles, a La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA World Club Cups.
His second spell kicks-off with a home tie against Celta Vigo on March 16. Madrid sit 12 points off the top of the table with 11 games remaining. The legend, Zidane had felt the squad needed a complete overhaul before leaving the first time – wanting to sell the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to fund it – though president Florentino Perez had been reluctant to green-light such a dramatic transformation.
But now the club’s domestic struggles coupled with their embarrassing Champions League exit to Ajax have seen Zidane return and he will be given the backing required to turn things around. Real’s interest in the likes of Hazard and PSG star Kylian Mbappe is well known, but El Chiringuito TV have revealed two more names on his wishlist: Paul Pogba and Sadio Mane.
“I think it’s perfect with the fantastic things he’s done in recent years,” Mourinho told El Chiringuito, as reported in Spanish media outlet Marca.
“It’s perfect for me, perfect for Madrid, perfect for him. It’s a great opportunity to show how good he is, especially now with a new project. I think he’s great.” Mourinho has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in December.
Since then, the 56-year-old has featured regularly as a pundit on beIN sports and he has revealed that he is targeting a swift return to management at the top level.