Where the hell is Martin Odegaard?
Excuse me for the strongly-worded sub-heading, but I am, yet again, left flabbergasted at how little respect Zinedine Zidane seems to have for Martin Odegaard. HE called Odegaard and told him that Odegaard would be crucial to his plans in 2020-2021. After getting schooled by Pep Guardiola, Zidane saw Odegaard has his solution. And his solution has played a meager five minutes since the start of December.
That is malpractice of the highest order and absolutely indefensible. How can you have one of the best players in the whole league sitting on your bench, itching to play, and not use him? I have consistently backed Zinedine Zidane this season, but there are some instances where I have to draw a hard line and say that the manager is in the wrong. And this is one of those cases where we are beyond patience and slowly working with a young player; we are at a point where we must question Zidane’s decision-making.
I am not here to say Zidane is not competent. I would never make such a claim about a man who has accomplished what I could only dream of. But I strongly believe he is making a grave mistake by not playing Odegaard or finding a fit for him. Last season, he had La Liga on strings for the better half of the campaign, and he nearly lifted Real Sociedad to a Champions League place.
Odegaard is needed in Madrid with his creativity as a passer and dribbler. How can you sit there and tell me that Marco Asensio is doing a better job than Odegaard? It’s blasphemous.