Yahoo Finance Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid boss tests positive for Covid-19
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has tested positive for Covid-19, the club confirmed on Friday.
The Frenchman will be absent from the touchline when Los Blancos travel to Mendizorroza Stadium to face Alaves in LaLiga on Saturday night, with assistant boss David Bettoni expected to take the reins instead.
Zidane entered self-isolation earlier this month after a close contact returned a positive coronavirus test.
After missing training, the 48-year-old tested negative himself ahead of the goalless draw against Osasuna on January 9 and was in the dugout as usual for that fixture.
Zidane was also on the touchline on Wednesday night as Madrid were upset by third-tier Alcoyano in the third round of the Copa del Rey.
Official Announcement: Zidane#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 22, 2021
In a brief statement on Friday, the club said: “Real Madrid C. F. report that our coach Zinedine Zidane has tested positive for COVID-19.”
Despite winning a first LaLiga title in three years last season, Zidane’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu has once again come under increasing scrutiny of late.
In addition to that humiliating Copa del Rey upset, Madrid also lost to Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup last week and they currently sit second in LaLiga and seven points adrift of leaders Atletico, who also have a game in hand.
After facing struggling Alaves on Saturday, Zidane’s side meet Levante, Huesca, Getafe, Valencia and Valladolid before a Champions League last-16 showdown against Serie A outfit Atalanta next month.
Asked if he fered for his job after the loss to Alcoyano, Zidane said: "When you lose people always talk about that but I take responsibility and whatever will be, will be. I'm very relaxed, our players want to win every game, they always try to but sometimes something else happens. You have to deal with it.
“We've been playing well, a little bit less recently, but apart from the last couple of games we've done things well this season and we need to remember what we're capable of.”
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