Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he is "not afraid" of the current challenges he faces, saying he has faith in his team to come through their current difficulties.
Zidane's first two years as a top level coach were hugely successful, with a nine-trophy haul which included the first ever back-to-back Champions League wins in the modern era, and Madrid's first La Liga and European Cup double since 1958.
However, recent months have seen the team drop a full 16 points behind runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona, with senior stars including Cristiano Ronaldo struggling for form, bringing the first serious questioning of Zidane's coaching ability around the Bernabeu.
On being named France Football's French coach of the year, Zidane told the magazine that he had always worked hard when faced by challenges, and he was confident he could find a way out of the current situation.
Le sommaire du nouveau numéro de France Football avec Zinédine Zidane élu meilleur entraîneur français 2017 https://t.co/XOMWkdpDJI
— France Football (@francefootball) January 8, 2018
"I want to show I can be a good coach in times of difficulty too," Zidane said. "I'm not afraid. I'm tooled up for that. People might think that everything is always simple for me, that I do everything by instinct, but that's not true.
"Whether it be as a player or as a coach, I've always worked hard... Today, yes, the danger is there, but I'm not going to change. I'm aware I have great champions in front of me who listen to me. We know how to play football, so things will end up falling into place."
Zidane has been close to president Florentino Perez since his time as a player, but the first cracks in their relationship have opened in recent days following Zidane's public questioning of the club's pursuit of young Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, according to well-connected Spanish radio host Jose Ramon de la Morena.
On Tuesday morning the front cover of AS referenced the France Football interview had "Zidane at his lowest hour," while Marca's front page included a "top secret" claim that an internal club report had detected "problems in the team" including defensive insecurity, problems closing out games, issues at full-back and "no sign" of the Ronaldo whose goals had previously decided tight games.
Buenos días, aquí tenéis la #PortadaAS del 9 de enero de 2018 pic.twitter.com/MdTNRftRBq
— AS (@diarioas) January 9, 2018
Zidane has regularly pointed out that no Madrid coach is really secure long-term in the job, and again said that his aim was to enjoy what he did day-to-day and not look too far into the future.
"I know it will stop with Real one day," he said. "So, I enjoy it and I give myself all the means to succeed. I say to myself, 'If I have 10 days left here, then do those 10 days to the max. If it's six months, do those six months to the max. I don't think about anything else. I know I'm not going to stay for 10 years."
The 45-year-old said that all he achieved as a player, including the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, La Liga titles and the 1998 Ballon d'Or, was no longer relevant when his coaching ability was being considered.
"Zinedine Zidane is no longer a player at Real," he said. "That Zidane doesn't exist anymore. It's Zinedine Zidane the coach who has to create a career. I'm not protected by what I achieved as a player at the club..."
An ability to "switch off" and just live a normal family life when not working was an advantage he had, Zidane added.
"Outside pressure doesn't affect me," he said. "I put up my shield, nothing can bother me. I'm aware of a lot of things. And when I go home, I switch off, I cut the electricity. I know a lot of coaches can't switch off from their work, I have that ability. I go home, see my wife, my children, I go and watch a show or have dinner with my wife. I recharge my batteries, because that's indispensable. I know how to protect myself."