Zidane is not a coach, he is a teacher says Roberto Carlos

“Guardiola is Guardiola, and I am going to try and do it the best I can”, he said. “But I am motivated, excited, and that is going to ensure that things go well”, he said.

Real Madrid is third in the Spanish league, four points behind leader Atletico Madrid and two behind Barcelona, which has a game in hand.

In the letter, Benitez thanked everyone, from the board of directors to the fans, for the time he spent coaching one of the most iconic soccer teams in the world.

Benitez expressed no bitterness in his parting statement: “Now, at the end of my time as first-team coach of Real Madrid, I would like to use this article to say goodbye to everyone at every level of the club”.

Blind faith that Zidane can recreate his playing success as a coach is all club president Florentino Perez has left with his credit running low as Barca have dominated in Spain over the past decade despite Perez’s lavish spending on transfer fees.

Zidane was promoted when Benitez was sacked midway through his first season.

“It has to be offensive football, balanced and nothing else”, the 43-year-old added. It is an important day for me, it’s an emotional day, even more emotional than the day I signed as a player for the club.

Real’s next match is a La Liga game at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday and they meet AS Roma in the first leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie on February 17.

“He is an important player and a key player for the squad”.

“We’re in the last 16 and the target is always to win”.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and the club’s other star names were put through their paces following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Valencia.

Gerrard, who won a Champions League and FA Cup under Benitez at Liverpool, confessed he was sad to see him replaced already, but is sure he will bounce back.

Zidane, who played for Real Madrid between 2001-2006, worked as an assistant to Ancelotti before taking charge of the organization’s B team, Real Madrid Castilla.

Real Madrid’s first practice under Zidane is set for Tuesday morning.

“We are going to work hard to be the best we can on the pitch, that is the message”. He called Zidane “the best person for the job”.

Hazard hit 19 goals to help the Blues to the Premier League title last season under Jose Mourinho.