Zinedine Zidane faces a tough challenge in guiding Real Madrid back to the forefront of Spanish and European football next season.

With a contract running until 2022, the Frenchman is expected to replicate the success he enjoyed in his first reign which included three Champions League trophies and a La Liga title.

Zidane has got off to passable start considering the state of the side he inherited from Santiago Solari less than a year after he left in May 2018.

Albeit short of the long-term standard required at Madrid, the 46-year-old has won five and drawn two of the ten matches following his reappointment.

His men host Real Betis on the final day of the La Liga season, though with a third-place finish already confirmed, they have nothing to play for.

It will be Los Blancos’ final outing before Zidane has the chance to revamp his squad ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

However, despite the former midfielder being hand-picked to oversee the rebuilding of Madrid, the club hierarchy are reportedly trying to influence his team selection.

Earlier this month, AS claimed Zidane’s superiors had told Keylor Navas that Thibaut Courtois will be first-choice between the sticks next term.

Asked if he had spoken to the Costa Rican about his future ahead of Sunday’s match, Zidane, per Goal, said: “Could it be Keylor's last game? I don't think so, nor do I want to think about next season either.

“There are many rumours about what's going to happen but I'm not going to say anything. Nobody knows what I said to Keylor except him and me.

“I will be clear about who will play when the next season starts. It's my decision. Who do you think is in charge of this team? It's clear as water: I'm the coach, I will always do what I want and if I can't then I'll quit. That's clear.

“With the transfer issues, there are people here at the club and we all work together. But the team, choosing the line-up, the bench, the squad... that's me and my staff.”

An irritated Zidane was also quizzed about Madrid’s interest in Antoine Griezmann and Luka Jovic, to which he replied: “Are there no questions about the game tomorrow?”

For obvious reasons, Zidane commands a great deal of respect in the dressing room.

But if reports of him being asked to favour an underperforming player over one of the club’s most loyal servants are true, it begs the question of why he was headhunted to repair this broken Madrid outfit.

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