Global Soccer: Zidane Can’t Save Real From Losing Another Madrid Derby

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Diego Simeone of Atlético, left, and Zinedine Zidane of Real exhorted their players from the sideline in Madrid.

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Curto De la Torre/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

LONDON — When Zinedine Zidane was a player, he could raise his game like few other men to breach almost any defense. As a coach, he no longer has that power.

And in his own stadium, with a team of players as expensive as any on earth, the futility of that predicament clearly tortures him. Zidane railed to no effect as Real Madrid lost, 1-0, on Saturday to Atlético Madrid in their derby match.

Zidane’s problem was that he no longer wears the white jersey of Real Madrid during games, but instead a heavy black overcoat as the coach. Zidane exhorted and shouted to his players from the sideline, but his instructions fell on deaf ears. As he waved his arms and clenched his fists, sections of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium waved white handkerchiefs and called for Real Madrid’s president,…

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