Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane has revealed that Former France play-maker and Madrid new coach, Zinedine Zidane expects him to be fierce upfront.
Zidane dethroned Rafael Benitez in the Bernabeu hot-seat in January and is trying to inculcate a more attacking consciousness in his team.
He said, “He’s explained that a defensive player must play in an attack way, too, to push the team forward,” the 22-year-old told L’Equipe Mag.
“The intention has to be there from the beginning. He has made me realise that passing the opposing strikers is a move that helps defensively. You defend by removing the danger in a constructive manner. Therefore, it’s a defensive act for possession to be in the opposing half.
“Zidane has tried to get me to improve. Anticipating, reading the play, putting myself in the defensive balance, I know how to do all this. So he expects the same finesse in an attacking sense.
“If I know where I want to play before I receive the ball, it’s easier. It’s more fluid.”
Varane has also admitted he holds Zidane in high esteem.
“He talks to me and all the other players before each match,” he said. “He has experience of the highest level with France and Real. So he can see things from both angles, as a player and a coach.
“He tells me that regardless of the opposition, you must player with the same intention, the same philosophy: always go forward.”
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