Zinedine Zidane's career as Real Madrid manager got off to the best possible start at the weekend, when his side defeated Deportivo la Coruña 5-0 in La Liga.
Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick and Karim Benzema scored twice in the win. Zidane's side are now four points behind La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid at the midway point of the season.
Ben Lyttleton spoke to Off the Ball last night about how Zidane coped with his first 90 minutes as manager of the team, and how the team changed from the Benitez era.
"The big change was the attitude. The players seemed liberated. It looked like Zidane had taken the Ancelotti approach and just said 'go out and attack'". However, he also added that "if Benitez had still been in charge, Real Madrid would have still won the game."
Bale's impressive showing in Zidane's first game in charge was also a noteworthy point for Lyttleton, saying "he was the guy everyone said was most upset by Benitez's departure. The movement between [Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo)]was as good as it's been all season and possibly in the last couple of years as well."
Lyttleton added that he expects Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at the club next season now that Rafael Benitez has left the club.
Zidane's next game in charge is at home to Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
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