Reguilón gets his chance under Zidane
Marcelo’s absence has given Reguilón a chance to impress Zidane and regain the starting position he had earned under Santiago Solari.
After three games since the French coach’s return, Sergio Reguilón gets his first chance under Zinedine Zidane. The 22-year-old academy graduate has started against Eibar this Saturday, coming into replace the suspended Marcelo, who received a fifth yellow in the defeat to Valencia mid-week.
Marcelo’s absence gives Reguilón a chance to impress Zidane and regain the starting position he had earned under Santiago Solari. Since the departure of the Argentine coach, Reguilón is one of four players that have been cut under Zidane, who has returned Marcelo to the position of first-choice left back. But having to once again play second fiddle to Marcelo is a something that 22-year-old Reguilón has handled with maturity and professionalism.
“I’ve never felt like a starter in this team. In front of me I have Marcelo and I’m aware of that,” he explained on Spanish football programme El Chiringuito. “Marcelo is a normal guy, I get on very well with him,” he added after on Spanish radio.
Marcelo: Zidane’s first choice left back
Conscience of the player’s delicate situation following the breakdown of his relationship with Solari, Zidane has shown nothing but affection for Marcelo. The Brazilian defender had reached the point of putting in a transfer request after he had lost his starting place under the Argentine coach. But the return of Zidane has changed the scenario for the 30-year-old.
"I love Marcelo, as a player. What he has done here is great, we are always going to need him. He's good and we're always going to ask more of him,” said Zidane on Tuesday. “He's been questioned a lot lately, but I love him and I want him to play a lot more.”
Madrid, however, has fared better with Reguilón in the starting line-up, winning 14 games (73.68%) and losing five. With the Brazilian starting, they have won 15 (57.69%), three drawn three and lost eight.