Whenever a new manager joins a pressing side with lots of debacles in the current season, his responsibility triples to make some visible changes in the side and when he succeeds in doing so, his chest puffs out of proud and this is something that seems to be happening with Real Madrid’s newly appointed highly acclaimed manager Zinedine Zidane who has until been under tremendous pressure to deliver in front of their fans especially during a Clasico. Real’s Saturday win over traditional rival Barcelona could be a turning point of his career after his innovative changes in the field spread along with correct decisions on crucial moments that proved fruitful for his side. Since, Real were nowhere expected to beat in-form Barcelona before the game, bookmakers were not optimistic about Real and were giving shoddy odds in their favor and it carried by the half time when hosts were leading the scorecard, but second half changed the fate of the game in visitors’ favor and major contribution came from obvious Ronaldo and Karim Benzema who first written off the lead and then scored the winner.
The Los Blancos highly under pressure manager expressed his state of mind before and after the game and what he now feels after achieving the most important win – though it would have little impact on their board ranking – he said in the post-match news conference, “This can be a turning point — it is very important, for the rest of the season, for our spirit. And just before we play in the Champions League in Germany. Before the game, we wanted to keep doing what we are doing, preparing well. These are three points — it is a derbi, it is better to win it, but these are three points.
“Now we must think about resting well, and the next game, which is very important for us, and for what we want to do. We are seven points back, now we must think about next game, which is not in La Liga. Then on Saturday we will think about La Liga, and the three points, just the same. Nothing else than thinking about winning the next game. First we must pass out Atletico Madrid, we are still third in the table. And nothing more.
“Then we will see what happens. There are still games to play. To win here is an enormous prize for all the players. They played an enormous game.”