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The French coach has overseen an impressive transformation in his five months in charge and La Undecima can be the start of an exciting new project with Cristiano as its main man. Winning the Champions League is a unique way of kicking off a new sporting project. But this is Real Madrid and Los Blancos are different to everyone else. And after bringing home La Undecima, Zinedine Zidane must now think about building something special at the Santiago Bernabeu - with Cristiano Ronaldo at the heart of it.
Zidane always plays down his influence, yet it is clear he has had a significant effect. With Rafa Benitez in charge, Madrid were off the pace in La Liga and not considered among the favourites in Europe. But less than five months after the Spanish coach left and the Frenchman replaced him, Real are champions.
That vindicates the decision made by president Florentino Perez in January to dispense with Benitez and bring in Zidane. The club chief was heavily criticised at the time for yet another coaching change, but his mistake was sacking Carlo Ancelotti in the summer. With Zidane, however, Madrid now have someone similar.
Zidane sat alongside Ancelotti as Madrid claimed La Decima in 2013-14 and the Frenchman hit a wonderful winner back in 2002 when Real registered their ninth European Cup crown. He commands the respect of this team and these players; there is an aura about him.
Real's route to the final may not have been the most difficult, while the win was achieved on penalties against Atletico on Saturday, but you can only beat the teams in front of you and Zidane has done that.
Ronaldo's winning penalty sparked wild celebrations at San Siro and back in Madrid where thousands of Real fans took to the streets to celebrate the trophy. For the players and also the supporters, it is a moment to savour. But it must be the start, not the end.
Zidane has essentially ultilised the team Benitez wanted to pick, the Spaniard clearly trying to please Perez when he selected stars like Danilo and James Rodriguez, only to see his side implode in the Clasico last November and eventually lose his job weeks later.
With Casemiro in midfield to provide some steel and Dani Carvajal in instead of the disappointing Danilo at right-back, Madrid have looked more balanced. However, the fact remains that they have won La Undecima without a pertinent plan nor a particularly defined style of play.
That must come next. With Madrid able to sign players in the summer but not for the following two windows as a transfer ban hangs over the club, July and August are crucial months for the shaping of this team for the foreseeable future.
Important decisions need to be made. How does Zidane want to play? What will be the team's style? Madrid's two main rivals, Barcelona and Atletico, both have clear philosophies. Real, however, do not and the fact they can claim the Champions League without one serves as a reminder of the grandeur of this club.
Zidane will want to compete for more trophies, though, and give Madrid a clear identity they have lacked in recent times. With one Liga title in the past eight seasons, the aim now will be to challenge Barcelona in the Primera Division - as well as winning more Champions Leagues.
The Frenchman will already be focused on next season and thinking of the players he wants at the club. And Ronaldo will be one of them. The Portuguese was far from fully fit on Saturday and ended up limping in extra time. Still though he was there to fire the winning penalty in the shootout.
"I asked Zidane if I could take the fifth penalty because I knew it would be the winner," the Portuguese said afterwards. And on his coach, he added: "Zidane has done a phenomenal job. He deserves it. He has humility and I'm happy for him."
Cristiano is 32 in February, but in the build-up to the final the Portuguese revealed he was keen to sign a new deal at Madrid and after Saturday's win, Florentino said: "I hope he stays for life."
Ronaldo remains an important figure for the club and in the team as well and in January, Zidane said of his star player: "As long as I am here, Cristiano will be here too."
Together, the two have helped Madrid to another Champions League crown and the Frenchman will see the Portuguese as the centrepiece for the club's new sporting project this summer - even if the forward did not have a big impact until the penalties on Saturday and the fact that he may need extra rest in the final few years of his career. But with Zidane on the bench and Ronaldo on the pitch, Madrid must now think about the next step. It's time for some stability, long-term planning and a real identity at Real. La Undecima is only the start.
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