The French manager has been hit by another setback amid mounting pressure in light of the Spanish champions’ recent struggles.
Real Madrid have announced that manager Zinedine Zidane has tested positive for coronavirus.
Zidane will now enter a period of self-isolation and is set to be replaced by assistant coach Davide Bettoni on the touchline in the next few fixtures, staring from the La Liga trip to Alaves on Saturday.
Real Madrid revealed their fourth coronavirus case this season, after Eden Hazard, Casemiro, and Eder Militao, in a report released on their official website on Friday.
The Frenchman has been under pressure lately with his team largely inconsistent this season.
Los Blancos crashed out of the Copa del Rey following a 2-1 defeat to Segunda B side Alcoyano in less than a weeks’ time of exiting the Supercopa de Espana, and seeing serious questions have been asked of the head coach’s future at Santiago Bernabeu.
In La Liga, the defending champions side sit second in the standings with a seven-point deficit against Atletico Madrid despite playing a game more than their local rivals.
It will be interesting to see how Zidane’s absence will impact the team’s form. He is likely to remain in charge of the tactics and selecting the starting XI but Bettoni will be responsible for the in-game decision such as substitutions.
After Alaves, Real Madrid play Levante, Huesca, Getafe and Valencia in their next four La Liga fixtures.
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