Montevideo: Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde has credited manager Zinedine Zidane for giving him the self-confidence to flourish with the Spanish giants.
After playing 25 matches in his first full season as a Real Madrid player in 2018-19, Valverde has already made 32 appearances in this campaign, mostly as a starter.”He gives you confidence in a way that few other coaches do,” Valverde said an Instagram live chat with followers of the Uruguayan Football Association, Xinhua news reports.
Zidane is regarded as one of the best midfielders in history, having led France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship.He later became the first manager to win three successive UEFA Champions League titles by guiding Real Madrid to glory in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Valverde also praised Real Madrid midfield colleagues Luke Modric, Casemiro and Tony Kroos. He described Kroos as a reference for all players, citing the Germany World Cup winner’s “admirable composure” on the ball. The 21-year-old, who has already been capped 20 times for Uruguay’s national team. (IANS)
