Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has taken responsibility for Los Blancos’ poor performance as they were stunned 4-1 by Villarreal on Sunday evening.
After taking the lead through Karim Benzema, Real were swept away by Valencia, who led 4-1 after the hour mark thanks to a penalty hat-trick from Carlos Soler and an own goal from Rafael Varane.
Highlights | @Carlos10Soler scores a penalty hat-trick in a 4-1 @valenciacf_en victory! ??
? #ValenciaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ip4QktIdsv
— La Liga English (@LaLigaEN) November 8, 2020
Zidane criticized his team selection for the game, with players such as Marcelo and Isco surprisingly brought in cold for the game, and his decision not to make any changes until Real were 4-1 down. also attracted some criticism.
“The fault is mine because I am the coach and I have to find a solution,” Zidane said (via AS) “But we played well in the first 30 minutes, and after the equaliser, the game changed completely. It was ours. It has happened many times and I don’t like it.
“After the goal we fell apart and the way we played changed. Everything happened to us: three penalties, an own goal. It’s hard to understand this match.
“I don’t think Valencia is better than us tactically. The only thing is that we started well and after the goal everything changed. It’s hard to understand. But yes, the responsibility would have been on me. “We have to find a solution after that. They scored.”
Zidane’s sentiments were echoed by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, whose analysis of the game was a bit harsher than the boss.
“Three penalties against him, an unlucky second goal… I don’t know, I think we started well, sometimes we don’t move up the pitch together and we get a bit caught out. Get done. Back, but [Valencia] Didn’t create chances,” he said (via Marca).
Courtois was not impressed / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
“The first penalty is a penalty, it’s unfortunate, I don’t know why it was taken again. The second goal is unlucky, at half-time we had the motivation to turn it around. As soon as I started I made a save. That goes to the post and then two penalties. [Gomez] More shouts, and VAR awards penalties.
“[In the build up to] The second goal, it was a foul on Asensio, I heard it in the changing room but in the changing room you can’t change anything.”
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