BARCELONA — All eyes will be on new Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane and on how he delivers his brand of attacking football spearheaded by the ‘BBC’ in his first match in charge against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga Saturday.
So far the quietly-spoken Frenchman has given little indication of the way he plans to breathe new life into a side that boasts plenty of talent but failed to perform in big games under former coach Rafa Benitez.
“The idea is to play with the three of them,” Zidane told reporters as he explained the roles of top-notch forwards Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, known in Spain as the ‘BBC’.
“It is important to see attractive football and that is the line I will look to go down. Attacking and balanced.”
Benitez was never able to win over the dressing room with his studious approach following the departure of the more easy-going Italian Carlo Ancelotti in the close season.
Fans and the media also criticized the Spaniard for being too defensive and Zidane will now need his three leading performers to show more willingness to track back.
Real’s attacking trident are as prolific with league goals as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Barcelona but it is in other facets to their play that the difference shows.
Both trios have hit 35 La Liga goals this season but the perception is that Real’s players have been less willing to defend.
Former France great Zidane’s illustrious career as a player demands the respect of the squad even though this is his first stint as a top-flight coach.
Third-placed Real is four points behind leader Atletico Madrid, which is away to Celta Vigo Sunday, and two adrift of Barcelona which hosts Granada Saturday.
Deeney rules out Arsenal move
Troy Deeney is flattered by the interest from Premier League leader Arsenal but the striker insisted he would remain at Watford, even if it makes him less popular at home.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has predicted a busy January transfer window for the Gunners and reports have surfaced in British media that the Frenchman was looking to add Deeney to his side.
“We have got a project to complete and the gaffer has stated before that whatever happens in the summer, will happen in the summer,” Deeney told talkSPORT.
“It is very flattering (the Arsenal interest). My son is an Arsenal fan so he read it in the paper the other day and I do not think he is happy that I am staying at Watford.”
Carroll not for sale
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has ruled out selling striker Andy Carroll in January and said he did not expect the club to be very active in the transfer window as several key players were close to returning from injury.
The Hammers are sixth in the Premier League table, four points outside the Champions League places and face Championship (second-tier) side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup Saturday.
Carroll has spent much of his time at West Ham in the treatment room but when fit, the 27-year-old, who has scored in his last two games for the Hammers, is one of the most effective traditional center-forwards in England.
“We never said we were willing to sell Andy, not me, not the chairman. He’s a very popular player,” Bilic told reporters at his pre-match news conference Thursday.
