Zinedine Zidane draws comparison between Real Madrid and France national team: ‘Same madness and demands’

Zinedine Zidane draws comparison between Real Madrid and France national team: ‘Same madness and demands’ Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane has taken over as France manager, looking to build on Didier Deschamps’ work with the team. The legendary midfielder has drawn a direct comparison between the demands surrounding France and Real Madrid, admitting that the relentless pressure is something he enjoys rather than fears. The France coach knows that environment better than most. Zidane experienced the expectations at the Bernabeu both as a legendary player and as a hugely successful manager. Zidane embraces the pressure As quoted by Fabrizio Romano , Zidane understands what it feels like to work in environments where winning is rarely enough to silence the demand for what comes next. “France has the same madness and demands as Real Madrid. I love that,” Zidane said. “When I was at Real Madrid, it never stopped but I loved that.” Zidane had an excellent managerial stint at Real Madrid. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) The Bernabeu has always operated with a different definition of success. Winning creates celebration, but it also immediately raises expectations for the next match, the next trophy and the next season. Zidane did not merely survive that environment during his time as Madrid coach. He mastered it. Madrid prepared Zidane for France That experience should serve him well with France, where the expectations are equally enormous, if not more so. Managing elite players is only part of the job. The greater challenge is dealing with everything surrounding them. Few coaching jobs prepare you better to handle outside criticism and media mayhem than the Madrid one. Zidane’s comments also reveal something important about his personality. Pressure was never something he simply put up with. He thrived in it. Zidane is the kind of person to thrive when the lights shine brightest. (Photo by Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images for EA SPORTS FC™ 25) This helps explain why the Frenchman remains arguably Madrid’s best managerial figure of the last decade. Some coaches can find the constant demands exhausting. However, it was exactly what Zidane needed. It helped him lead the team to a Champions League three-peat , something that was, and still is, unprecedented. It remains to be seen whether Zidane is able to leave a similar lasting impact on France and help them win silverware in the coming years.