Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Zinedine Zidane: Carlo Ancelotti should get new Real Madrid contract

Zinedine Zidane believes Carlo Ancelotti should be offered a contract extension, telling Marca: "He is the best coach for Real Madrid."

Ancelotti, who joined Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2013 and is currently mid-way through a three-year deal, had said during the team's run of  22 consecutive wins last year that he would be happy to sign a new long-term extension.

Blancos president Florentino Perez has also appeared keen to extend the coach's contract, but he has said the matter will only be dealt with at the end of the season. 

Current Madrid B-team coach Zidane, who was Ancelotti's assistant last season as the side won the Champions League and Copa del Rey, is widely seen as the most likely candidate to replace the Italian when he eventually leaves his post, but he hopes that will not happen for some time yet.

"Ancelotti is very important. He is the best coach for Real Madrid," Zidane said.

On whether Ancelotti's contract should be renewed, he said: "For sure -- always, always. He is a good coach, knows how to manage the group. He is very professional and knows what he wants.

"He has very clear ideas and above all gets on well with the group, something which these days is even more difficult, to manage a squad, a group of players."

Zidane's Real Madrid Castilla side began their current season in the third tier in awful form, but a resurgence through recent months has seen them climb to top spot in the table.

The former France international also had to contend with questions over his qualifications to take on the role during Castilla's struggles, and he said: "These things always annoy you, but I cannot stop people saying what they want to say.

"The truth is it takes longer [in France] than in Spain, but in the end I am getting the licence. In the end I can coach the team, and the most important thing for me is to focus on that. If someone does not like it, what can we do?"

Asked whether he sees himself working at Castilla in the Segunda Division next season, Zidane said: "I do not know. We will see.

"At the moment I am working at Castilla, I am delighted with what we are doing, with the coaching staff and the players. Next year, we will see."

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