Steve McManaman: “Maybe if Zidane was in England, we would be lauding him even more”

For many, Zinedine Zidane does not get the credit he deserves as a manager. Two television pundits in England, both former players, have come out and supported Zidane’s work. Steve McManaman, the former Real Madrid winger and former teammate of Zidane’s, as well as Joe Cole, the former England and Chelsea winger, have heaped praise on the Real Madrid coach.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, McManaman discussed Zidane the coach, “The fact that he (Zidane), won the league last year after taking over from Lopetegui and Solari half way through the year, and galvanized them to win the league, I think he has done an incredible job. Maybe if he was in England, we would be lauding him even more”.

Joe Cole reiterated the thoughts of his compatriot. The former Chelsea man put Zidane on the footballing equivalent of Johan Cruyff. “Zidane does not get the credit he deserves,” Cole affirmed. “If you put his playing career together with his managerial career, then you are talking about him in the same breath as Johan Cruyff. Maybe even more - because I don’t know who has achieved as much as him.”

If Zidane can get this current Real Madrid squad to the final of the Champions League, it may be up there with one of his finest achievements yet.