Zinedine Zidane and the substitution problem
So how has Zinedine Zidane used his substitutions this season in the league? Zidane has made an average of 3.5 subs/game in the league this season. However, after the Alaves loss in November, the average has gone down to 2.9 subs/game. To put that into context, Diego Simeone has made an average of 4.1 subs/game. Simeone is resting his players more through rotations.
In the games in which Real were set to drop points when Zidane made his first tactical substitution, the Frenchman has made 3.9 subs/game. The average after that Alaves loss in such games is 3.0 subs/game. Simeone has stuck to his policy of making 4.1 subs/game regardless of what the situation is in the game.
On average, Zidane has made his first tactical substitution at the 66th minute. Simeone’s first tactical substitution comes at the 58th minute. However, post-Alaves game, Zidane has started further delaying his first substitution to the 71st minute.
Again the games in which Real were dropping points when Zidane made his first tactical substitution, his first introduction of a new player has come at the 61st minute. While in six of the seven such games Simeone’s side had their first tactical change at the 46th minute.
Simeone thus has been handling the game time of his key players in a better way than Zidane. He gives the team’s key players rest more than Zidane and is more reactive when he sees his team struggle. Zidane seems to have stopped believing the abilities of the players he doesn’t start. However, for him to succeed and to make sure the seniors don’t wear out in the business end of the season, Zidane needs to act when it matters.