Zinedine Zidane is one of those people that just radiates calm. It turns out the Frenchman is equally as serene when giving his half time team talks. In a video posted to their Twitter account last week, Real Madrid uploaded much of Zidane's half time team talk from their victorious match against Juventus in last year's Champions League final.
At half time with the scores level at 1-1, the Real Madrid manager leaves his troops to recover for seven minutes before gathering everybody together to deliver his message. Zizou barely raises his voice, offering very clear and simple instructions to his team. He is calm yet firm and the respect that his players show for him is evident for all to see in the clip. It was interesting to observe the stillness of the Real Madrid dressing room. There were no panicked faces, no fervent discussions, just rest and recuperation.
Check out the clip below:
I always find it odd that the media are granted access to footage such as this, there seems to be nothing in it for the manager or the players. Zidane has come under pressure as of late and perhaps the release of such footage was a PR stunt on the clubs behalf.
Team talk videos always make for a fascinating insight into the workings of a professional football club. Zidane's style is a million miles from the foul mouthed ramblings of Neil Warnock, though you have to admit Warnock is definitely the more entertaining.
Also while we're on the subject here's an insight to Brendan Rodgers team talks from the infamous Being Liverpool documentary series. Good to note that this talk preceded a 3-0 defeat for the Reds.
