Football: Zidane takes over as Real Madrid coach

(AGI) Madrid, Jan 5 - Legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane was presented as the new Real Madrid coach on Tuesday, taking over from Rafa Benitez. "You were a legend and have many more successes ahead of you, good luck", said Real Madrid's director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, about the new Real Madrid coach. Zidane said: "My predecessor worked hard and I wish him the best of luck for the future. Real is a tough challenge for me, but one that fires me up". Zidane was speaking in French at a press conference, after arriving over an hour late. The Spanish press reported that Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, hoped to have the same good luck as Barcelona with Guardiola. However, Zidane said: "I am here to try and do my very best, but I don't want any comparisons with Guardiola, I don't like comparisons." Nor did he wish to be compared with the many coaches who trained him while he was one of the great global stars of football. "When I was playing, I had lots of coaches and I believe I've taken something from each of them, because they all gave me something important. Now I have to think about being the sort of coach I want to be, doing what's right for my players, not what my own coaches did. I want to pass on the pleasure of playing football, what I was looking for when I played. I have three strikers, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale, but I will try to bring in something of myself too, especially on the attack, safe in the knowledge that good playing has always been important at Real." There is, however, talk that Bale is perplexed and disturbed by Benitez, with whom he had always had an excellent relationship, being relieved of his duties. Zidane's response was that he would treat him with the same affection as Benitez did, and that he would have all his support. Many people believe Zidane was one of the top players ever, but he will now have to start from scratch in his role as coach. "I took some time out before beginning this new adventure. My intention is to win titles because that is the most important thing for Real". Zidane is well aware of what sitting on Bernabeu's bench means, but did not think about it for long, accepting immediately: "It wasn't something I foresaw, but as soon as they offered me the job, I said yes." He has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and told his fans "the same things I said to my players, this calls for enthusiasm, we want our public to be enthusiastic about us and to go on supporting us with pride. [The team] was attentive and charged up, happy. I told them simple things that I believe are important, that we have prestigious objectives to work for and that we are capable of doing so." (AGI). .