The Real Madrid coach, Zinedine Zidane, has tested positive for covid-19, the club reported this Friday, although "he is fine, " added his second, David Bettoni, at a press conference, who will lead the team on Saturday against Alavés.
"Real Madrid CF communicates that our coach Zinedine Zidane has given a positive result in covid-19," said the merengue club in a brief statement, without giving further details.
Shortly after, Bettoni appeared at a press conference in his place, assuring that "I spoke with the coach this morning and he is fine."
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Bettoni will be in charge of replacing Zidane on the merengue bench on Saturday in Vitoria (Basque Country, north) in the LaLiga match of the 20th match against Alavés. However, the second Real Madrid coach seemed to hint at the possibility of Zidane being in remote contact with the team for the match.
"For tomorrow he will not be with us physically during the game, but he will be with us to support the players, give his energy and help everyone," said Bettoni, who assured that the coach is "a little sad" for not to be with their players.
Contact with a positive
Zidane's positive comes after he had to stay in isolation on January 7 for having been in contact with a person who tested positive for covid-19.
The technician then gave "negative in an antigen test" according to club sources. The next day, the Merengue coach tested negative in a PCR test and was able to attend the LaLiga match against Osasuna in Pamplona on January 10 (0-0) normally.
The coach continued to lead his team normally last week, in which Real Madrid lost in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao.
Zidane was also present in Alcoy on Wednesday in the round of 32 matches of the Copa del Rey, which the white team lost to the modest Alcoyano in extra time (2-1). The French coach was also conducting the training of his team normally on Thursday in the Real Madrid sports city, on the outskirts of the Spanish capital.
Zidane joins the list of Real Madrid members affected by the coronavirus such as the Brazilians Militao and Casemiro, or the Belgian star Eden Hazard, who already surpassed him at the time. This week the coach of the merengue branch, the former striker Raúl González Blanco, also tested positive for covid-19.
Zidane will now miss the match against Alavés, but depending on how his contagion evolves, he may miss another game.
In the immediate term, Real Madrid has to host Levante on January 30 and will visit Huesca on February 6 in two LaLiga matches.
Credit: tribunanoticias.mx