Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Egypt's SCZONE welcomes Zhejiang Province delegation for trade talks    Beltone Venture Capital partners with Citadel International to manage $30m startup fund    S. Africa to use contingency reserves to tackle debt    Gaza health authorities urge action for cancer, chronic disease patients    Transport Minister discusses progress on supplying new railway carriages with Hungarian company    Egypt's local gold prices see minor rise on April 18th    Expired US license impacts Venezuela crude exports    Taiwan's TSMC profit ups in Q1    Yen Rises, dollar retreats as G7 eyes currency calm    Egypt, Bahrain vow joint action to end Gaza crisis    Egypt looks forward to mobilising sustainable finance for Africa's public health: Finance Minister    Egypt's Ministry of Health initiates 90 free medical convoys    Egypt, Serbia leaders vow to bolster ties, discuss Mideast, Ukraine crises    Singapore leads $5b initiative for Asian climate projects    Karim Gabr inaugurates 7th International Conference of BUE's Faculty of Media    EU pledges €3.5b for oceans, environment    Egypt forms supreme committee to revive historic Ahl Al-Bayt Trail    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Acts of goodness: Transforming companies, people, communities    Eid in Egypt: A Journey through Time and Tradition    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Tourism Minister inspects Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Pyramids    Egypt's healthcare sector burgeoning with opportunities for investors – minister    Egypt starts construction of groundwater drinking water stations in South Sudan    Russians in Egypt vote in Presidential Election    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Egypt's powerhouse 'The Tank' Hamed Khallaf secures back-to-back gold at World Cup Weightlifting Championship"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    Egypt builds 8 groundwater stations in S. Sudan    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Zidane scrambling for answers after Madrid's early struggles
Published in Ahram Online on 03 - 10 - 2016

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane goes into the long international break with a lot of thinking to do.
While the hiatus leaves fans having to mull over the team's struggles a little longer, Zidane will be able to use the extra time off to find ways to get his squad back on track after four straight draws.
''It's my responsibility to look for solutions because we've got to change things. We can't carry on like this,'' Zidane said. ''I'm not happy, that much is clear.''
Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw by Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday, leaving the field jeered by fans. The team had already failed to beat Las Palmas and Villarreal in the Spanish league, as well as Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Its last win was at Espanyol on Sept. 18.
''We need to look for ways to improve and we'll do that after the international break by working hard. I believe in the work and the quality of this team. I don't think attitude is the problem but something is wrong,'' Zidane said. ''We've got 10 days without the players and when they come back we'll have to start working at 100 percent, not only physically but tactically as well. We need to work together.''
Zidane said it's too early in the season to talk about a crisis, but admitted the team has to turn things around when it resumes playing in two weeks.
''After the start we had to the season, this is tough to take,'' he said. ''I'm not going to lose my head but it's tough. We need to work harder and show more intensity at the beginning of games like we've done very often, but we're struggling to replicate that lately.''
Madrid lost the league lead to Atletico Madrid after Sunday's draw. Atletico, which won 2-0 at Valencia, also has 15 points, but leads Madrid on goal difference. Sevilla is third with 14 points, one more than Barcelona, which lost at Celta Vigo 4-3.
Zidane said he may have to ''bring more intensity to the training sessions'' to get his players playing hard from the start.
Zidane has not been able to count on some players during the winless stretch, including left back Marcelo and defensive midfielder Casemiro, who are injured.
To add to Zidane's problems, playmaker James Rodriguez sustained a muscle injury while warming up for Sunday's game against Eibar, and midfielder Luka Modric will be out for a while after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Madrid's next chance to snap its winless streak is Oct. 15 at Real Betis, a team which has yet to lose at home. Madrid then hosts sixth-place Athletic Bilbao.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.