Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Real Madrid are eying record 21st international title win in Japan under the able leadership of Zinedine Zidane.
The European champions are the hot favourites at this year's tournament in Japan and can surely overtake arch rivals Barcelona who hold the record for the most international trophies in world football.
Their tenure under Zidane has been outstanding as it has literally turned fortunes for them as the Frenchman has masterminding the side to victory in last season's Champions League.
They are also guaranteed to be top of the league standings in Spain when they embark for Japan. “Zizou has that kind of magic that dazzles you,” Real captain Sergio Ramos said of Zidane. “He’s taken the group in the right direction and we’re going places. There’s a lot of harmony, he’s more sympathetic than our last coach and everyone can see what he has achieved.”
While Zidane’s first full season will be judged on whether Real remain top of the league come the end of May and how far they go in their Champions League defence, the Frenchman is taking the Club World Cup seriously.
He is expected to bring an almost full strength squad, minus the injured Gareth Bale, to Japan as Real target a record 21st international title to take them past Barca and Egyptian side Al-Ahly.
Real’s first game in Yokohama will be a semi-final on Dec 15 against South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors or Mexican side Club America. The final is scheduled for Dec 18.
