He left out the in-form Gareth Bale and took Thibaut Courtois off at half-time after picking the poorly ‘keeper to start… now Zinedine Zidane is back under pressure after Real Madrid’s latest Champions League calamity
Doubts have once again descended on Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid with whistles for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and questions over why Gareth Bale was left in the stands for such an important Champions League game.
Courtois has now let in five goals from just eight shots in the group stage and his inability to keep out Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis’ shots brought whistles from the Santiago Bernabeu before half-time.
He did not emerge for the restart amid suggestions of a stomach bug. Zidane’s press conference post-match did little to clear up the mystery of why he was fit to start the game but not play the 90 minutes.
Real Madrid’s stuttering Champions League Group A campaign continued on Tuesday night
Real were trailing 2-0 at home to Club Brugge at half-time thanks to striker Dennis’ brace
Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was the subject of the home fans jeers during the first half
‘Courtois is not well, he had some things…’ he said trailing off before adding: ‘He couldn’t continue in the second half.’
Diario AS reported that he had had stomach problems all day and he vomited at half time. His father had to drive him home because he was in no fit state to do so himself.
‘I’m not worried about him. He wants to do well,’ added Zidane.
Zidane was also not entirely convincing as to why Bale and James Rodriguez were left out.
They were tocados’ according to the coach – it’s a word that usually means not 100 per cent fit and implies carrying a slight knock.
The match made for exasperating viewing for Real manager Zinedine Zidane in the dugout
Gareth Bale trained ahead of the match but was not in the Real squad for the 2-2 draw
James Rodriguez (left) was another who trained but was left out by Zidane for the Brugge clash
Post-match Zidane implied that the pair were not 100 per cent fit and were carrying knocks
But Sportsmail understands that Bale was physically fine and there was certainly no pre-agreed decision to rest him. Was the coach trying to cover up a decision to play a weakened side that clearly back-fired?
One columnist in Diario AS complained: ‘Zidane wanted them both [Bale and Rodriguez] out in the summer. Only the 7-3 pre-season loss to Atletico Madrid and so many injuries made him use them but now the injuries to other players have cleared up they were back in the stands watching. The manager needs to think again. We don’t have so much talent that we can afford to have them not playing especially not with things as they are in the group.’
Lucas Vazquez played in Bale’s place and was second only to Courtois as a target of the ire of the Bernabeu.
This is the first time that Madrid have failed to win either of their two group games. It was also their third straight home defeat in the competition because they lost to CSKA Moscow and Ajax last season.
This is the first time the Spanish giants have failed to win either of their two group games
Pressure is mounting on Zidane already with their Champions League progress in danger
Bale will be back in on Saturday against Granada as Real Madrid look to stay top of La Liga. Courtois’ future looks far less certain.
Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said post-game that his replacement Alphonse Areola was ‘frankly very good’ in the second period.
He was ‘tense and insecure’ said Marca giving a zero rating. With Madrid bottom of the Champions League group he will be under-pressure to play ahead of Areola in their next crucial game in Galatasaray.
