Zinedine Zidane raring to go

Zinedine Zidane insists he is raring to go after recharging his batteries and returning to Real Madrid on Monday.

The Frenchman returned to the Santiago Bernabeu this week after the Spanish giants decided to sack Santiago Solari following a poor campaign so far.

Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League last week after losing 4-1 at home to Ajax. That came after back-to-back defeats to Barcelona but Real did respond on Sunday when beating Real Valladolid 4-1.

Zidane left Madrid last summer after two and a half years in charge and he has now penned a new deal until June 2022.

He had been linked with other jobs but he now returns to the Spanish capital just months after winning three Champions League trophies in a row.

“I have been living here in Madrid, doing my things, but I have recharged my batteries. I’m ready to coach this great club again,” Zidane told a press conference.

“It has been difficult from outside looking in. I am looking forward to working with the players again, to competing again.

“I’m just happy to come back. I want to work and to provide what’s needed to get the club to where it should be. Things will have to change. I am here because the president called me.

“I love this club very much and here I am. We have 11 games left this season and we want to do as well as we can.”

Zidane’s first game back in charge comes against strugglers Celta Vigo and over 3.5 goals is available at odds of 1.95.