Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has leapt to the defence of manager Zinedine Zidane following his side's 2-1 Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
Zidane has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell as Madrid boss so far, picking up eight pieces of silverware in two-and-a-half seasons including becoming the first manager to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era.
Despite that track record, the Frenchman's future at the Bernabeu has come under scrutiny this season following a disappointing domestic campaign which has left them third in La Liga and 15 points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
However, with his side on the brink of another Champions League final at the halfway stage of their last-four tie, Ramos believes that Zidane has received unfair criticism compared to some of his predecessors.
"The Madrid coach will always be questioned. They must know how to live with that," Ramos told reporters after the first-leg win over Bayern.
"I have been here many years, in the first seven or eight I did not win even one Champions League and there were coaches who there was not a word said against.
"I take my hat off to Zidane, for his management and his CV as both a player and a coach. He knows how to make the tough decisions, and we are all very happy to have him guiding our boat."
Madrid could this season become the first team to win three consecutive Champions League titles since Bayern achieved the feat between 1974 and 1976.
Barney Corkhill
