A modest start to the season and inevitably at a club like Real Madrid, some mutterings about the future of manager Zinedine Zidane have started.
A surprising defeat at home to Cadiz in La Liga, a shock loss to Shakhtar Donetsk, and this week a draw at Borussia Monchengladbach, leaves Real vulnerable in the Champions League, an unthinkable scenario. Only the relief of victory in the clasico has helped ease the pressure.
Zidane acknowledged that the start of the season has not been a good one, but he promised to turn the situation around, and he will do just that.
I have admiration for Zidane. His personality, his immunity to criticism, is certainly a powerful virtue in a manager who uses his composure as a strategy to get out of difficult times.
Zidane is a coach who in less than five years has won the Champions League three times and La Liga twice. Last season, he oversaw a run of 10 consecutive victories to overhaul great rivals Barcelona and win the title by five points.
In times of trouble, he has always had the ability to unite his players and staff and protect them from the pressure of the media. That is exactly what he is doing now.
Zidane is different. He remains above the Pep Guardiola-Jose Mourinho duels, he has never adorned himself with nicknames like Special One, he doesn't choose the showmanship of Jurgen Klopp’s energetic and rock and roll style, nor the posturing of Diego Simeone.
Discreet and serene, Zidane is a much less showy character for headlines and soundbites.
Managing pressure, the anxiety of bad times and the euphoria of good times, is one of the great values of the Real manager, and the criticism has been very unfair.
He is accused by critics of changing the starting 11 too frequently. He has used 19 players so far, but those detractors are the very same people who praised him in the past for the same strategy that ensured a united and physically fresh squad, and brought success in the league and the Champions League.
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Real draw in Germany
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From a tactical point of view, Zidane is not obsessed with a style of play like Guardiola, Klopp, Mourinho and even Marcelo Bielsa.
Zidane adapts his game model according to the players he has available, and adapts it to them. Not the other way around. He believes that this way the players will produce more because they will be comfortable.
Guardiola and Klopp's teams are a clear reflection of their ideas. With Zidane that doesn't happen. There is no set ideal and he allows his players enough freedom to express themselves.
He silently managed the upheavals with Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. According to him, the players were not committed to the club so they would never be comfortable playing as a team.
He remained silent during the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to losses of around €200 million ($234m) for the club. Together with the remodelling of the Santiago Bernabeu, that prevented Real from being a force in the last transfer window. Even so, there was no criticism or pessimism from the coach.
Real defender Dani Carvajal said recently in an interview with Esquire magazine: "Zidane gives us a lot of tranquillity. It never changes and, whether things go well or badly, it maintains its composure. something that gives us a lot of peace of mind."
Zidane will solve the problems and overcome criticism. With peace of mind.
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
