REAL MADRID’S calamitous collapse has left Zinedine Zidane needing to win the Champions League to avoid the Bernabeu axe, according to reports.
The Spanish giants’ season has imploded in the space of two weeks and Zidane now faces an ultimatum – European glory or bust.
Zinedine Zidane has been told he must win the Champions League or be sackedCredit: Reuters
Real Madrid have been in dreadful form by their high standards this seasonCredit: Reuters
Real Madrid trail city rivals Atletico by ten points in LaLiga – with Diego Simone’s men even having a game in hand.
The Bernabeu giants have also been dumped out of both domestic cup competitions.
Athletic Bilbao booted them out of the Spanish Super Cup before third-tier minnows Alcoyano shocked them in the Copa del Rey just six days later.
Out-of-form Real face plucky Italians Atalanta in their Champions League last-16 tie, with the first leg in Bergamo on February 24.
If they go all the way, it would be an incredible FOURTH Champions League title for Zidane as manager.
The French former Galactico won three in a row between 2016 and 2018 during his first spell in charge.
He walked off into the sunset after his third triumph in 2018, before returning in March the following year.
Failing to deliver this time around, however, will mean leaving the Bernabeu NOT on his own terms.
Spanish publication AS report that Champions League success is the only way of guaranteeing he stays on beyond the summer.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
ZIDANE’S TROPHIES AT REAL MADRID
LaLiga: 2016–17, 2019–20
Spanish Super Cup: 2017, 2019–20
Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Zidane has four league games before the crucial Atalanta clash and is set to ring the changes against Huesca, Getafe, Valencia and Real Valladolid.
Eden Hazard needs to impress or he faces being dropped for Lucas Vazquez, with the former Chelsea star still failing to impress in Spain.
Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior will also be looking to stake their claim to a place in the line-up as Zidane looks to rest his top stars ready for the continental tie.
With Sergio Ramos’ contract drama casting a shadow over the dressing room, the captain is likely to sit out the league matches before returning for the Atalanta game.
Real Madrid boss Zidane insists that Copa del Rey Cup defeat to Alcoyano is not an embarrassment
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
