Real Madrid: four reasons why Zidane's credit on the merengue bench runs out [PHOTOS]

During three seasons (and a good part of a fourth), Zinedine Zidane had the approval of almost all of the Real Madrid fans, since winning three consecutive Champions Leagues, a League title, a Spanish Super Cup, two Club World Cups, and two UEFA Super Cups in these times is not an easy achievement. Real Madrid established a reign in that continent that ended with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and the stepping aside of the French coach.

Then, a series of circumstances didn't give peace to the squad that continued under the orders of Julen Lopetegui, nor the one that followed after his dismissal with Santiago Solari. And Florentino Pérez thought again of his 'Messiah', one who, after 284 days, returned to the merengue bench. But, a bad start leads to a bad ending, and that was the 2018-19 season for Madrid, fighting only for their qualification to the next Champions League.

But he hasn't been the same. Even before finishing the previous season, he showed a different stance and left behind the 'everyone is important' policies to openly say (and act) regarding who he wanted in his next squad, and who he didn't. Thus, he let go of players like Ceballos, Llorente, Reguilón, players who were considered future bets for the club. And he even lost Keylor Navas, one of his key players and with whom he had a good relationship. But, above all, his stance made many players start losing value in the market.

New signings arrived, some highly anticipated, others not so much, and after an irregular pre-season and a slow start to the season, Zidane's work and his coaching staff are starting to be a matter of concern in the top ranks of Real Madrid. In the matches he has led since March 16, the day he returned against Celta, he has achieved six victories, four draws, and four defeats. In other words, he has lost more points (a total of 20) than he has won (18). Today, teams called 'small' that Madrid used to beat with three or four goals, can steal points from them. Yes, the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo (and his 50 goals per season) is significant, but the defensive ineffectiveness has also become apparent.

In just these three league matches, Zidane has fielded a Madrid with tactical dispositions with different patterns. He started with a 4-3-3, with Bale and Vinicius as inverted wingers. But the 4-4-2 against Villarreal, with Lucas and Bale as withdrawn wingers and two center-forwards with Jovic and Benzema, was more noticeable. There is no continuity.

But perhaps, the most worrying point for the top ranks of Real Madrid is the handling of the young figures of the team, many of whom arrived in this transfer window and are promising players, but do not have (or appear to not have) space in the main squad. Vinicius Junior arrived last season and, before Zidane's return, the 20-year-old Brazilian brought hope back to Madrid fans who longed for a versatile, daring player with the desire to conquer the world. However, after an injury and the Frenchman's return, Vinicius was relegated and has lost that confidence. He has become an intermittent player who contributes little. This bothers the executives, as they know that he is an asset of the club and a bet for the future that is starting to go astray.

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