Zinedine Zidane has defended Karim Benzema, with the Real Madrid striker coming in for criticism for his lack of goals this season.
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France international Benzema has found the net just once in eight competitive outings for club and country this season, leading to questions over whether he deserves a place in the Madrid side along with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Zidane -- who now coaches Real Madrid's Castilla side -- told RMC it is only a question of time before the 26-year-old, who struck 17 times for Madrid in La Liga last season, recaptures his potency in front of goal.
"He's Real Madrid's No. 1 forward and he hasn't scored lately," he said. "The critics will be there as long as it lasts -- he has to score goals, for Madrid and France. He's aware of all of that. He knows who he is, the player he is and what's expected of him.
"I was close to him last year, and I'm a little less so now because I'm very busy, but it's not because of that that he's not so good. In the next game, he'll score and we'll move on to something else."
Zidane, who spent last season as one of first-team boss Carlo Ancelotti's assistants, made an inauspicious start to his role with Castilla, losing his first three games in charge.
However, he claimed his first win at the weekend and added: "I feel good. I'm happy with a young team with whom I'm also learning. It's not exactly the same job as I had last year with the first team. They're young, it's different work, but it's good all the same.
"There's a lot of work on a daily basis, a lot of self-sacrifice. That's what I wanted to do. I really enjoyed being alongside Carlo Ancelotti but, after a year, I wanted to do something different."
He might have been coaching former club Bordeaux, with his name on the shortlist to replace Francis Gillot this summer. The position went to his former international teammate Willy Sagnol instead, but Zidane acknowledged that he had met Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud to discuss the possibility of him taking on his first senior coaching role at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
"I liked the idea," he said. "I saw Jean-Louis Triaud, who came to Madrid. We talked about it. Things didn't happen because of him. He was clear with me. He told me: 'There won't be many players arriving. This is what we can offer you...' I made my decision. I decided to do something else. I made a choice, and today, I don't regret that choice."
The 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner admitted he could one day consider taking charge of his country's national team.
"Of course, if I continue being a coach, if I have the opportunity to coach a first division team and things go well... because everyone knows it's only the victories and trophies that count, not who you are or have been," he said. "Yes, why not -- one day -- coach France? But we're not there yet."
However, he reacted angrily when asked about reports that -- according to French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet -- he had sought to succeed Laurent Blanc as Les Bleus coach in 2012, saying: "I didn't ask for anything, OK? Let's move on."
The former Juventus and Madrid star praised Didier Deschamps' work with France, who produced a valiant if in vain display against eventual champions Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals.
That performance was achieved without Franck Ribery, who was deprived of the trip to Brazil due to a back injury, and who has subsequently decided to retire from international football.
While UEFA president Michel Platini and Le Graet have hinted the Bayern Munich star could yet be called up against his will, Zidane stated Ribery's decision should be accepted, even if he acknowledged the 31-year-old Bayern Munich star still had a lot to offer.
"He's a player that can still give a lot to this France team," he said. "He's a leader. We were all surprised by his decision. But I work on the principle that, when a player decides not to play for France, you have to respect his choice without forcing him or punishing him.
"I don't think he did it for the same reasons as me. I had come to the end. I was 34, that's all. I don't know why he made that decision, but you have to respect it."