Football
9y

Carlo Ancelotti backs Zinedine Zidane over Castilla coaching badge issue

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says the coaching badge issue which could see Zinedine Zidane banned from taking charge of Real Madrid Castilla for three months is unfair.

Zidane is managing Madrid's B team this season, although he is officially listed as an assistant as he has yet to complete the UEFA Pro Licence required by the Spanish authorities.

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez has called the situation "shameful," while former Barcelona boss Johan Cruyff has played down the issue, saying that knowledge of the game is more important than any certificate.

The La Liga authorities had appeared content to accept the situation, but more recently it emerged that Zidane now faces a three-month ban from coaching or selecting the Castilla team for breaking the regulations.

Ancelotti told El Partido de los 12 that for him the situation is unfair as Zidane is in the process of gaining the licence required.

"It does not seem right to me, [Zidane] does not have the certificate but he is getting it," he said. "France is the only place where it takes three years. I had the same problem in Italy, it is just in Spain that this happens. The law is there to be obeyed, but it can be fair or unfair."

Ancelotti also defended Madrid captain Iker Casillas, whose position has again been questioned after a mistake in Spain's shock 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying lossĀ in Slovakia.

La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque says that a "transition" is now underway with the national side, as Manchester United's David De Gea is being brought through as the future No.1, having started in the 4-0 defeat of Luxembourg.

Ancelotti denied anything similar was taking place at club level with the 10 million-euro signing Keylor Navas, while saying he retained full confidence in Casillas.

"They are different cases," Ancelotti said. "Sometimes I like to keep Keylor motivated, but at the moment Casillas is playing well. We have conceded lots of goals but not due to him. I have confidence in Iker and he will play. There is no debate about the goalkeeping position.

"I have a lot of faith in him, he has been through very delicate moments, but he is strong and has a lot of personality. We count on one hand his mistakes -- one in [last season's Champions League] final in Lisbon, this with Spain... I do not believe we should open a debate for this."

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