Madrid's awful season hit rock bottom with their humiliating exits from the Copa del Rey

Here are five things Zidane can do which might lead to an upswing in fortunes.


1. Make a big statement

Even as Madrid's season has got worse through recent months, Zidane has stubbornly refused to change anything. The former Galactico has almost made it a point of pride to stick to the plan made at the start of the season, and he keeps repeating that "no matter what happens" he is not for turning.

However even he must realise the importance of lifting the mood around the team, giving fans and pundits something different to talk about, and posing different questions for opposition coaches who appear to have figured out how to stop this Madrid team.

A shake-up could involve a switch of formation, dropping a big name star, or a radical change of tactics. Statements of intent do not come much bigger than benching the out-of-form and clearly unsettled Cristiano Ronaldo. It is difficult to see Zidane going quite that far, but some kind of shock therapy is required.

2. Don't take eye off La Liga

While many around the Bernabeu are already focused on Feb. 14's Champions League round of 16 first leg at home to Paris Saint-Germain, their position in La Liga also needs urgent attention.

Four points from their last four La Liga outings sees Madrid in fourth place in the table, five points behind third placed Valencia -- albeit with a game in hand. They are also just one point ahead of Villarreal and three clear of Sevilla.
Both chasers have clicked into decent form in recent weeks, with new coaches Vincenzo Montella and Javi Calleja having made real positive differences.

The idea of the 2014, 2016 and 2017 Champions League winners not even qualifying for the competition next season seems far-fetched. But a real battle for the top four is now on. Every game now is vital.

3. Build around Gareth Bale

The only bright light recently for Madrid has been the resurgence of Gareth Bale, who has five goals in his four games since the turn of the year and who finally looks close now to full fitness and top form.

Bale was also absent from Wednesday's Copa disaster against Leganes, apparently as Zidane felt it was not worth the risk of overplaying him given his past history. With the Copa exit meaning no midweek games until PSG visit, the Wales international can play every minute now and he currently looks the most likely by far to do something special to reignite their season.

That could mean a change in formation or tactics to get Bale on the ball more often and in more dangerous areas. It should also see him given more responsibility for set-pieces around the opposition penalty box. Even if that annoys other sensitive players in the Bernabeu dressing room.

4. Reconnect the stars and the kids

A squad which won almost everything last year is currently playing way, way below its full potential. Both the 'A' team which has struggled in La Liga, and the 'B' side now eliminated from the Copa, have been well below par.

Given Zidane continues to rule out any quick-fix solutions from the January transfer market, he now has to reconnect these two groups together and find the right blend for the rest of the season. What a player did last year is not important right now, everything must be focused on getting things right for the next few weeks.

Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos (though he is injured) should get more regular starts surrounded by senior teammates to help them out. They must be convinced that if they perform well enough they will stay in the team for the biggest games. Underperforming stars like Marcelo, Raphael Varane and Luka Modric might even benefit from a spell on the bench.

5. Improve their away from

Madrid are now four games without a win on the road in La Liga, with their last away victory coming at Getafe back on Oct. 14. Bale is the only Madrid player to score on the road in La Liga over the last three months, with Ronaldo finding the net just once in the league away from the Bernabeu all term.

Given that context, the last thing Zidane and his players need is a tricky trip to Mestalla, which has a foreboding history for Blancos coaches.

Rafa Benitez's final game in charge almost exactly two years ago was a 2-2 draw against a Los Che side then managed by Gary Neville.

The previous season a 2-1 defeat began a slump which saw Carlo Ancelotti fired at the end of the campaign. Last term also brought a limp 2-1 defeat, in possibly the team's worst performance of the entire season.

But the Mestalla could therefore be the ideal place for Zidane and his side to turn a corner. Valencia are also likely to feature just one

specialist centre-back due to injury and suspensions, and be distracted by a Copa semifinal next week. A convincing win in what everyone sees as a really difficult fixture would bring a big and welcome boost.