Zinedine Zidane may not have enjoyed the best pre-season at Real Madrid, but one of his former pupils does not hesitate in stating he believes in the Frenchman's methods.
Cristiano Ronaldo heaped praise on Zinedine Zidane following a string of games with disappointing results for Los Blancos, and even so, he chose to ignore Real Madrid's recent problems under the French tactician, who's chemistry with his players gives the team an edge over his predecessors at the Spanish capital.
Talking from his personal experience, CR7 praised Zidane in an interview with DAZN and revealed the secrets of Zizou's success during his first 30 months at the helm.
"The kind of confidence a player needs does not come from within. It comes from the people around you, other players, and your coach. You need to feel relevant for the group, and that's what Zidane did best. He made me feel special," Cristiano Ronaldo stated.
Cristiano went on to talk about Zidane's influence in his game. Some people stated that Zizou made the most out of the Portuguese footballer's skills, and CR7 shared how Zidane accomplished that.
"He used to tell me: 'Cris, you need to rest, because you will be the one that will shift the balance in our favor.' He was always forthcoming and that is why he will always have a place in my heart," Cristiano added.
The player-coach duo led Los Blancos to a new golden age in the UEFA Champions League, but Zidane must prove he can do it again without his star player.
The Portuguese striker concluded the interview by sharing how he changed his thoughts on Zidane once he got the chance to work side-by-side with the French legend.
"I respected him, but working right next to him made me admire him even more. I respect him even more once I got to know his way of treating people, his motivational skills, because of the way he spoke and because of how he oriented the team. Added to that, he always had kind words for me," the footballer concluded.
