Former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has returned to Real Madrid on a contract until summer of 2022, the Frenchman spoke to the media after replacing Santiago Solari on Monday 11, Zidane insists he was right to quit after winning the Champions League last year. He says he wants to take Real to 'another level' following a difficult of Madrid games for this season. Zidane revealed that he turned down many offers from other clubs just for him to return to Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane admitted he had received various offers to return to football since leaving Real Madrid last summer, but said the offer to 'come home' was too good to turn down.
The 46-year-old also vowed to do things better – in the league at least – than he did before.
Speaking in his first press conference since signing a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2022 he said: 'When I went it was the right time to leave. I have had various offers since then but I wanted to stay here in Madrid. My first reaction when the president called me was to come back. Here I am.'
Zinedine Zidane speaks to the media after being confirmed as the new manager of Real Madrid
Zidane has returned to the club to replace Santiago Solari, who was sacked on Monday
Asked about why he left last summer he stuck to the same reasoning he used when he walked away nine months ago saying: 'I left the club because I thought the squad needed a change after winning everything.
'I'm back because the president called me. I am happy to be back but it's a big responsibility because a lot of people love this club.
'We won the Champions League last season but we lost the league early and the cup too and I was at the controls when those things happened.
'I know what I did wrong last season and I'm going to do my best to make sure the team does better this time.
'We have to change things but right now we have time to talk and plan. We have 11 games left. Things are going badly in the league but I was the coach last season and it was the same (in the league).'
Zidane turned down offers from other clubs to return to the Bernabeu on a deal until 2022
The Frenchman approaches the podium during Monday's press conference at the Bernabeu
TROPHIES WON BY ZIDANE AS MANAGER OF REAL MADRID
La Liga: 2016–17
Supercopa de Espana: 2017
UEFA Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
UEFA Super Cup: 2016, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Privately Zidane was unhappy about plans to sell Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
Asked about the Juventus striker he said: 'Everyone knows what Cristiano is. He is one of the greatest and part of the history of this club but we have 11 games left to focus on.'
Asked if he felt returning was a risk he tapped his chest and said: 'I'm not thinking about that. My heart says that I have rested and the president calls me and I wanted to come and that's it. The desire I have is what has brought me here.'
He will work with the same staff as last season with Antonio Pintus – already at the club as fitness coach – staying put to work with him.
He batted away questions over who would be staying and would be going at the end of the season but when asked about the various problems he will inherit with Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo all having had their falling-outs with team-mates and supporters this season.
The 46-year-old said he could not refuse when president Florentino Perez called him
The Frenchman insists he is happy to be back and ready to get stuck in at the club
He said: 'The players here have won so much. I'm not going to get involved in what has happened between them this season.
'I've seen all the games. The players are the first to know that it has been a tough year. You cant always win sometimes you have to lose to get back to where you were before.'
He admitted that not everyone had had kind words for him since he walked away from the club last year. He said: 'Some people said 'gracias' but also some bad things too.'
He added: 'I wouldn't be here if I thought something negative could happen or there was a risk. I'm a positive person and I've managed to rest well these last few months.
'The Real Madrid president called me and I wanted to return. Maybe four months ago it wouldn't have worked out, I wouldn't have come, who knows?
'But this is the right timing and a great opportunity. I'm really looking forward to this challenge.'
Zidane says he would not have taken the job if he was concerned at spoiling his legacy
The return of Zidane is seen as a major coup for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez who presented the French coach to reporters at the Bernabeu.
He said: 'We are going through a complex and difficult time. We have not had the desired results this season.
'I want to recognise the professionalism of Santiago Solari in difficult times and we want him to stay at this club if that is what he desires, but we want to start now working towards a new golden era.
'Dear Zizou, we want everyone to know that the best coach in the world is coming back to Real Madrid.'
Perez was in jocular mood after managing to persuade Zidane to as he put it 'come home'. Asked about signing Kylian Mbappe he joked: 'Zidane is French he can maybe do something'.
And asked if he preferred Mbappe or Neymar he said: 'I would say both'.
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