Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane gestures during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 5, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Real Madrid delivered a winning response to Zinedine Zidane’s stinging criticism as Mariano Diaz scored twice in a 3-2 victory over Villarreal on Sunday.
An angry Zidane questioned the attitude of his players after last week’s 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano and reacted by making more changes, with Luka Modric and Gareth Bale not even included in the squad.
“I am the coach,” Zidane said. “I pick the squad and that’s it.”
Instead, youngsters like Jesus Vallejo, Brahim Diaz and Federico Valverde were given chances to impress, along with Mariano, who has barely been used since joining from Lyon last summer.
His two goals, either side of Vallejo scoring his first for the club, were enough, despite Jaume Costa pulling a late goal back for Villarreal to…
