'Nobody can compare with him' – Solari dismisses Zidane comparisons

As he prepares for his first game in charge of Real Madrid, the new boss played down comparisons to the club legend

Santiago Solari dismissed comparisons to Zinedine Zidane after being appointed interim coach of Real Madrid.

Solari was named caretaker Madrid boss after Julen Lopetegui was sacked in the wake of his side’s 5-1 El Clasico loss to Barcelona on Sunday.

The former Argentina and Madrid midfielder steps up from his role as Castilla coach – just as Zidane did in 2016 – but Solari played down comparisons.

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“Let’s just let him live in peace, he’s one of Real Madrid’s greatest icons,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.

“There’s not enough words to describe Zizou, let’s leave him live with his greatness and not compare [us].

“Nobody can compare with him.”

Zidane was at the helm of Madrid for two and a half years, leading the club to three straight Champions League titles and a La Liga crown before resigning in May.

Solari will take charge of Madrid for the first time in a Copa del Rey clash against Melilla on Wednesday, but takes over a club in desperate need of a quick turnaround. 

Los Blancos trail Barcelona by seven points in the league table through just 10 matches. 

The club also still have work to do in the Champions League if they are to reach the knockout rounds.

They sit on six point through three matches but were only convincing in their group-opening 3-0 win over Roma.