How long will Zidane last at Real Madrid if their poor form continues?

After Real Madrid’s 3-0 defeat to PSG in their opening games in the 19/20 UEFA Champions League group stage, Real Madrid look like they are nowhere near the form that saw them win 3 consecutive Champions League titles under former player and current coach Zinedine Zidane. After the defeat, Zidane stated that ‘PSG were better in every single department”, and considering the fact that PSG were without the likes of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe for the game, it doesn’t bode well for Real Madrid or Zidane. The PSG defeat along with Real Madrid’s average start to the season has led to some people wondering if Zidane will be incharge at the Bernabeu for that long, with the Spanish giants lacking patience when results don’t go their way.

Zidane finished his first spell at the Bernabeu in the best possible way when he decided to step down after winning his third consecutive Champions League trophy after beating Liverpool 3-1 win Kiev. However, Zidane’s replacement Julen Lopetegui failed to maintain Real’s Champions League-winning form as he only managed a 43% win ratio as he only won 6 of his first 14 games in charge at the Bernabeu, and as a result, he was relieved of his duties. Lopetegui’s replacement Santiago Solari didn’t have a much better time in charge as he lost 8 and drew 2 of his 22 games in charge of Real Madrid. Many people believed the reason behind Madrid’s poor form was the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the Spanish capital for Turin in the summer transfer window.

Zidane was reappointed as manager on the 11th March 2019, after Real Madrid’s embarrassing exit from the Champions League after losing 4-1 to eventual semi-finalists Ajax at the Bernabeu. Zidane saw his side finish 3rd place at the end of the 18/19 season, 8 points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid and 19 points behind champions Barcelona. Zidane clearly realised that his squad required improvement, so during the summer transfer window, he brought in the signings of: Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo to the Bernabeu in the hopes of turning Madrid into the team that Zidane had during his first time in charge.

It’s evident that this won’t be the case as Madrid have drawn 2 of their opening La Liga fixtures this season, with last night’s embarrassing defeat to PSG summing up Madrid’s form since Cristiano Ronaldo and Zidane left in 2018. Being Real Madrid manager is a stressful job at the best at times, but it is likely that considering Madrid’s current form there will be considerably more pressure on Zidane than there was during his first few seasons in charge. As it stands, Zidane has a 40% win percentage from his first 5 games of the season, with only 2 wins. Of course with it being early in the season, and Madrid still having a strong chance of qualifying to the next round of the Champions League it is unlikely that Zidane will be under the axe just yet. However, considering the money that he has spent this season and the quality of players he has available to him, surely it is expected that Madrid for a minimum must be in the La Liga title race and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League, but knowing that he currently has a lower win percentage this season than the previous 2 managers, Zidane’s Madrid need to considerably improve their form if he wants to keep his job at the Bernabeu.