Real Madrid: Zidane's to-do list ahead of summer rebuild
Between now and the end of the season, Zinedine Zidane must resolve the Isco issue, lay the ground for Bale's exit, get to know the new faces...
Devise Gareth Bale exit strategy
Zinedine Zidane and Gareth Bale's relationship is non-existent, having reached its definitive breaking point in the aftermath of the Champions League final win over Liverpool in Kiev. Club chief Florentino Pérez's refusal to give Zidane carte blanche to dispense with big-name players was pretty much all about the Welshman, but now the situation is very different. Bale has lost the presidential protection he had enjoyed at Madrid up until now, with the growing list of scrapes that he has got himself caught up in (his snub of Lucas Vázquez, his gesture at the Wanda Metropolitano, his disappearing act in the defeat to Real Sociedad), leading the club's hierarchy to run out of patience with the 29-year-old. We'll have to see how Zidane sets about laying the ground for the forward's departure.
Get behind Keylor Navas?
When the club wanted to bring in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Zidane stood up for Keylor Navas; he greatly values the goalkeeper's contribution to Madrid's three straight Champions League victories. After a season so far in which Navas has been understudy to Thibaut Courtois, who has underwhelmed in his first year at the Bernabéu, Zidane could well use the 11 LaLiga games remaining this term to bring the Costa Rican back into the fold. Giving Navas game time in the league would be his way of showing his support for him once more. The player signed an improved deal recently and, though it had been on the cards that he would be let go in the summer, it's a decision that remains very much up in the air.
Resolve Isco conundrum
Isco is a player whose standing in the eyes of the fans, the club and the dressing room has been badly damaged by his dreadful relationship with Santiago Solari - who wanted internal sanctions against the midfielder and described him as "out of physical and competitive shape". His situation is a real headache, and it's not like life under Zidane was always a bed of roses for Isco, either; it certainly had its up and downs. The Frenchman must now reconcile what is proving a truly horrific season for the Spain international with the need to at least avoid allowing his market value to continue to plummet.
Get to know new faces in squad
Zidane knows everyone in the squad except for Courtois, Vinicius, Álvaro Odriozola and Brahim Díaz. He'll now need to run the rule over these new faces, in addition to assessing those players who he has already worked with under different circumstances (Sergio Reguilón and Fede Valverde with Castilla) or who have come on significantly in his absence (Marcos Llorente). That will start right away, as he begins his second spell in charge against Celta Vigo this afternoon (16:15 CET).
Get staff bedded in and laying foundations
"We have to see what we're missing in these 11 games and think about the coming seasons," Zidane said as he was unveiled on Monday. "That's the most important thing." He is back at the Bernabéu with his trusty backroom team in tow - headed up by assistant David Bettoni - and little by little, will look to bed those returning figures into the working structure at Valdebebas once more. Fitness coach Antonio Pintus was already there - and, given his excellent relationship with 'Zizou', is sure to enjoy the prominent role that he was stripped of under Julen Lopetegui, and was in the process of regaining under Solari.
Make players demand more of themselves
The major squad figures who have been guilty of throwing in the towel (Kroos, Marcelo...), can forget about that attitude now. There may be precious little to play for in the final period of the campaign, but it will nevertheless be key towards Zidane attacking his rebuilding job on the firmest of footings. He needs a calm atmosphere in which to do that and, among other things, that is all about finishing the season strongly. The squad will be aware that he has returned with greater authority than ever - and if anyone plans to phone it in, they're in for a nasty shock.