Zinedine Zidane issued a cagey update on his Real Madrid future amid suggestions he could be on Juventus’ shortlist to replace Maurizio Sarri.
Both Real and Juve tumbled out of the Champions League on Friday night at the hands of Manchester City and Lyon respectively.
Real were beaten 2-1 on the night, with two uncharacteristic Raphael Varane errors gifting goals for Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus as City won 4-2 on aggregate, while Juventus went out on away goals despite a Cristiano Ronaldo double.
Both head coaches – despite winning their domestic league titles – could now come under pressure.
Zidane, for the time being, expects to stay in the Spanish capital, although he did not rule out the possibility of him leaving.
‘I am here. I am the Real Madrid coach unless something happens,’ said Zidane after the match.
Sarri’s future appears less certain.
Defeat in the Italian Supercup to Lazio, the Coppa Italia final to Napoli, combined with a narrow Serie A title defence – finishing one point above Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan – has done little to convince Juventus chiefs.
President Andrea Agnelli admitted he would take ‘a few days’ to analyse the season but reports in Italy claim his time is up.
Zidane, who used to play for Juventus and Real, is greatly admired in Turin – and his three consecutive Champions League wins have made his return to the club an attractive thought.
However, Mauricio Pochettino – a free agent since departing Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season – is perhaps the most plausible candidate.
Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi is also believed to be under consideration after taking his side back to the Champions League, while winning the Coppa Italia and Italian Supercup in the span of a year.
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