Real Madrid: "Zidane is more prepared now" says Carvajal
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has been shown support by right-back Dani Carvajal ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Dani Carvajal believes Zinedine Zidane is more prepared than ever as the coach gear up for the new season in his second spell as Real Madrid coach. Zidane returned to the helm of the LaLiga giants in March, less than 10 months after resigning following a successful spell that included winning three straight Champions Leagues and a league title.
Madrid's worst pre-season results in 39 years
Madrid are yet to find their best form in pre-season despite signing the likes of Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy. Carvajal is backing Zidane, though, and says the coach has the support of the whole squad for his second stint in charge at the Santiago Bernabéu.
"You can see Zidane is very important, as he has been as a player and also during this first stage as manager," he told Omnisport. "Now, in this second stage, I hope he will be important again. I think he is more prepared than ever. Yes, it is true that he already has a few gallons of experience that he did not have before. I think he will do it very well. He has the respect, the trust of each and every one of us and I think that is the first step to go far."
LaLiga opener in Vigo
Madrid have lost three of their five pre-season matches, including a 7-3 humbling at the hands of rivals Atlético de Madrid in the International Champions Cup last month. However, Carvajal played down the importance of the results, saying it was all about preparing for Madrid's LaLiga opener away to Celta de Vigo on 17 August.
"[They] are matches to get shape, to get feelings. At the end of the day we have to be ready for that day, August 17th, against Celta, and try to get the three points," the right-back said. "Now I think that the manager is testing many players, he is testing systems, and trying every possibility a bit. As I said, we need to get the maximum of guarantees of a victory on the 17th [of August]."
Carvajal added: "At the end of every season, there is a new season, with new challenges [that are] more and more exciting. And you have to think in that way. In the end, a football player's sports career is short, and if you want to mark an era or feel proud tomorrow, you have to reset every summer and try to win everything."