Zidane announces "a change" compared to Deschamps

Didier Deschamps was a proponent of a results-oriented culture, sometimes at the expense of the quality of play. Zinedine Zidane subscribes to a different philosophy.

Last Friday, Zinédine Zidane's first squad list as manager of the French national team was highly anticipated. The new man in charge of Les Bleus made some bold choices.

Regarding the press conference that followed, it was in line with the one held at his inauguration at the end of July. It's no secret: "Zizou" isn't particularly talkative. Some of his answers can even be summed up in just a few words.

The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner also knows how to use diplomatic language. This is reminiscent of his predecessor Didier Deschamps, renowned for being an expert in this area. However, where Zinédine Zidane truly intends to make his mark is in the quality of the football he produces.

Zidane, beautiful football as a priority

“There will definitely be a change,” he promised this Sunday on Téléfoot. “What I want is a team that plays, that really decides to take control of the game. And then, of course, when we don’t have the ball, we’ll have to be balanced, really focused on the transitions both when we don’t have the ball and when we do. What will motivate me is really getting this team to play well, and we’re going to do it my way.”

The trip to Turkey on Friday, September 25th, for the first matchday of the Nations League, will be the first opportunity to observe Zidane's influence. The international break will also include a double-header against Belgium and a home game against Italy.