Quiet man Zidane bringing stability from the shadows at Real

Cristiano Ronaldo was asked earlier this season to sum up Zinedine Zidane in a word and the one he picked was "winner".

At a Real Madrid media day on Tuesday, half a dozen players were rolled out to answer questions ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool, and one journalist made a point of quizzing each of them about their coach.

"Zidane is one of the best I have ever had," said Marcelo, who has played under a few, including Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez.

"He was one of the greatest ever to play football," Isco said. "Anything Zidane tells you, it stays with you."
"We never get the impression he's nervous," Dani Carvajal said. "Whenever he speaks, your eyes are like saucers."
So why is a coach, backed by the most high-maintenance squad in the world and on the brink of a third consecutive European success, still not considered much good?
-- Passion and motivation --