Vincenzo Montella does not hide his admiration for Zinédine Zidane. The Turkey coach will be the Frenchman’s first opponent since taking office at the head of the Blues, this Friday in the Nations League. A man that the Italian has known for a long time having faced him when they were players, notably during the fight for the Scudetto 2000-2001 and during the Euro 2000 final won by France. “ Zidane was the essence of football », summarizes Montella in an interview given to The Team. He also highlights the success of his reconversion: “ It’s not automatic when you’ve been a great player to become a great coach. » According to him, his time with Castilla (Real Madrid’s reserve team) played an important role in his learning before his arrival on the bench of the first team.
Montella especially insists on Zidane’s human qualities and his ability to manage big players. “ Zidane has great charisma, without needing to show it. The players know what he says is true. In the management of men, of champions, he demonstrated that he was the best », Estimates the Italian technician, who also recalls his three Champions Leagues won with Real Madrid. Despite five years without coaching, Montella does not consider this long break as a handicap and even believes that it may have allowed the Frenchman to better observe developments in international football. To prepare for their confrontation, the Turkish coach expects to see the Blues evolve in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, even if he recognizes an element of unknown surrounding Zidane’s first choices.
