Zinedine Zidane and Isco Criticised by Ivan Helguera in Analysis of Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera has compared the club’s current midfielder Isco with manager Zinedine Zidane, insisting he can sometimes flatter to deceive in his playing style. 

Isco has been handed a key role in the side since the Frenchman took over from Rafael Benitez, much to the delight of many Madridistas. But it’d be fair to say Helguera isn’t totally convinced by the playmaker, saying his skill can sometimes cover up problems, as was the case with Zidane, per El Pais (h/t Marca):

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Isco doesn't set up goals, he doesn't score them, he doesn't head the ball and he doesn't win possession. He could offer a lot more, but because the Bernabeu applaud him every time he does a 'croqueta' trick. … 

The same thing often used to happen with Zidane. As a defender I'd see him pull off a magnificent piece of skill, but he'd be revelling in it while we were on the counterattack and one of our players was free on the other side of the pitch. 

"

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Helguera is certainly correct about one thing; Isco is a wonderful player to watch. Here’s a look at some of his standout moments in a Real Madrid shirt:

Before Zidane took the job on at the Santiago Bernabeu the midfielder’s future did look to be bleak. Under the tutelage of Benitez and Carlo Ancelotti beforehand, Isco wasn’t able to ever cement a spot in the starting XI, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez all occupying the front four positions.

However, since the change in manager, Isco has been handed a much more important position in the squad, with Zidane utilising him at the expense of Rodriguez, who has been inconsistent this term, during his first couple of games at the helm.

As we can see here courtesy of OptaJose, there has since been an appetite in Isco’s game that has rarely been seen before:

Still, as is evident by these statistics from La Liga matches, when it comes to goals and assists, the Spaniard doesn’t quite compare to his main rival for the playmaking position, Rodriguez:

	Isco	Rodriguez
Apps (Sub)	14 (4)	11 (4)
Goals	1	5
Assists	4	6
Shots per game	1.5	1.5
Key passes per game	1.6	2.8
Dribbles per game	1.9	0.9

However, there are some players who can be effective without the numbers to necessarily back it up. Zidane was one who fits into that particularly category, because while he wasn’t a prolific goalscorer—he scored 28 goals in 127 league appearances for Real, per Soccerbase—there were so many more things to admire about his game

Phil Cole/Getty Images

As we can see here courtesy of the Champions League’s official Twitter feed, Santiago Solari, a former team-mate of both Zidane and Helguera, has recently praised the midfielder:

Isco’s role in this Real team isn’t to score goals. He’s a player who is tasked with being a foil for the likes of Benzema, Ronaldo and Bale, creating with his neat passing, quick feet and ability to find space. Everything about Real’s attacking play is predicated on getting the aforementioned trio on the scoresheet.

Rodriguez’s willingness to shoot from distance is always likely to make him a greater goal threat. But a different kind of player, someone who can play a part in the build-up without necessarily being involved in the final acts, can help bring the best out of other attacking weapons.

That’s what Zidane, with his grace, touch, awareness and understanding of the game, did so brilliantly during his playing days. You suspect he’s looking for Isco to fulfil a similar role in this team.