Zinedine Zidane was the greatest player of his generation but whats he like as a manager? Ahead of the Frenchmans first Clasico in the dugout on Saturday, Sky Sports speak to two players from his old Real Madrid Castilla team to find out… Every now and then at Real Madrid Castilla last season, Zinedine Zidane would cast aside the clipboard and coaching tracksuit to join his players for training. He had just turned 41 when he became their manager in June 2014, but his innate ability with a ball at his feet has never left him.I remember the first time he joined in, former Castilla defender Derik Osede tells Sky Sports. I was impressed. My first thought was that he could still be playing because he still had so much quality. He did little things on the pitch that reminded me of the Zidane of old. It was wonderful, really. The Zidane of old won just about everything in a glittering playing career that started in the Cannes academy and ended at Real Madrid. His trophy haul includes a World Cup, three domestic titles, a Champions League, and a hat-trick of FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and he retired as an all-time great in 2006.Ten years on, Zidane is aiming to scale similar heights in the dugout having taken over from Rafael Benitez at the Bernabeu in January. The Frenchman has been working at the club in various capacities since 2009, but it was last season, while in charge of their second team, when he cut his teeth as a manager.His fast-track route to the top of the profession bears obvious similarities to that of Pep Guardiola, who was appointed by Barcelona having guided their B team to promotion in 2008, but its fair to say Zidane had a rather tougher time in Spains third tier in his only full season in charge. Zinedine Zidane spent five seasons as a player at Real Madrid It was a difficult season for everyone, Sergio Aguza, Castillas former captain, tells Sky Sports.There were lots of changes following our relegation in the previous season. Lots of players left and we were a practically new team. It was a little bit tough and in the end we didnt manage our objective of promotion. El Clasicos greatest player? Ronaldo? Messi? Zidane? Who is the greatest player to have played in El Clasico? Castillas sixth-placed finish fell well short of expectations, but there were mitigating factors for their manager - not least the arrival Norwegian sensation Martin Odegaard in January. Club president Florentino Perez expected the 16-year-old to walk straight into Castillas starting line-up despite training with the first team, and Zidanes destabilised squad soon slid off the top of the table. Zidane takes Real Madrid training following his appointment in January Castilla eventually finished two points below the play-offs, but Zidanes former players remember their time together fondly. To tell you the truth the experience was unforgettable, says central midfielder Aguza, who left Castilla for MK Dons in the summer before returning to Spain with second-division Ponferradina in January. Guillem Balague has the latest on Zinedine Zidanes future as Real Madrid boss All of the players were very happy when he arrived, he adds. To have a manager like Zidane at Real Madrid was a privilege for the players and although we didnt achieve promotion, it was a very good season in terms of learning. He is a manager who likes to be close to his players. He likes to know your opinions, and he likes to know how you are. Sergio Aguza on Zinedine Zidane Derik, a 23-year-old centre-back who now plays for Bolton in the Championship, agrees: We had all watched him as kids and he was an idol for all of us. Castilla is a young team with players who are only 17 or 18 years old, so when you are the manager, you have to educate as well as coach. Last year with Zidane was educational for us.Zidane was a quiet introvert who let his extraordinary talent do most of the talking during his playing days, but to the Castilla squad he was open and approachable - traits which have helped restore morale at senior level in the wake of Benitezs fractious spell in charge. Zidane succeeded Rafael Benitez at the start of January He always had his door open to everyone, says Aguza. My relationship with him was very good. He is a manager who likes to be close to his players. He likes to know your opinions, and he likes to know how you are. I spoke with him almost every day to try to improve things for the team.Derik describes Zidane as a very friendly and very normal person but insists he approaches his job with the same dedication and meticulousness he showed as a player. Apart from the quality he had, the foundation of his success was always hard work, he says. Enrique v Zidane We compare Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enriques El Clásico records He was a very hard-working footballer and as a manager he also dedicates a lot of extra time to the job. Thats why I think he could have kept playing. Hes in great shape for his age. He eats well, he goes to the gym, he likes yoga. He could also be strict with us because he has strong principles, and he likes to incorporate those values with his players - hard work, respect and solidarity.Zidane has worked alongside Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti as well as Benitez since returning to Madrid, so when it came to preparation with Castilla last season, he had learned to leave no stone unturned. Zidane worked as Carlo Ancelottis assistant during his time in charge We would spend a week learning about our opposition, says Aguza. We would study them and try to find ways in which we could win the game and attack their weak points. I think that was good. He gave us everything we needed to know about their strengths and weaknesses.And what about training? The ball was always the focus, says Derik. We used to do a lot of possession-based eight-a-side drills, but we only did Rondos on the days before games. We did a lot of specialized exercises too. Defenders would practice together, midfielders would do positional and passing work and the forwards would practice finishing. We also did a lot of tactical work to ensure we kept our shape. Bale feeling more settled Gareth Bale is enjoying life under Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid He was still an idol to us, so every time he talked or gave us instructions, we were always very attentive, adds Derik. It could be intimidating as he was one of the greatest players of all-time. He had our complete respect. We never had any problems with him in that sense.He was a good manager and a good person, and during my time with him he taught me a lot. I wish him the best. I know he will do well at Real Madrid and anywhere else in the future. Derik Osede (right) in action during a Real Madrid friendly against Inter Milan This season, Madrids senior players are similarly enamoured. Every piece of advice he gives you is like gold dust and it helps you improve on the pitch, said Luka Modric in February. Under Zizou everyone is much happier, added Sergio Ramos. He represents an example for us.His coaching credentials face their toughest examination yet at the Nou Camp on Saturday, but the Zidane of old knows exactly what it takes to win a Clasico. Zidane the manager now has the chance to follow suit. Watch Barcelona v Real Madrid live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm on Saturday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Clasico: The key issues Guillem Balague looks at the five key issues which will decide Saturdays Clasico Also See: El Clasicos greatest player? Neymar v Bale Cheap Huaraches China . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Cheap Nike Huarache Wholesale . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. http://www.cheapairhuarache.com/ . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Cheap Nike Huaraches Shoes . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Nike Huarache Shoes For Sale . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France -- Defending champion Chris Froome took his rivals by surprise with a daring downhill attack that earned him the race leaders yellow jersey on the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Saturday.Leading at the top of the final climb of the Tours second Pyrenean stage, a tough 184-kilometer ride from Pau to Bagneres-de-Luchon, he attacked when least expected on the grueling Col de Peyresourde.It surprised myself too, this was the first time in my career that I attacked in a downhill, I did not believe I was able to win like this, said Froome, who used a left jab to push aside a fan running too close to him before his stunning descent.In his two wins at cyclings biggest event, in 2013 and 2015, the 31-year-old Team Sky leader had asserted his authority on the race in the first mountain-top finish.Given that track record, the other leading contenders didnt expect Froome to make a move before Sundays stage to the ski resort of Andorre-Arcalis.It really was just a bit of a gamble, Froome. I thought, `I feel good, I want to give this a try, and I would like to see if this pays off. And Im glad it did.Thanks to the hard work of his teammates at the front of the peloton in the four major climbs of the day, Froome arrived in perfect condition at Peyresourde. After a first attack by Frenchman Romain Bardet fizzled out, Froome counterattacked but failed to drop Nairo Quintana in the first skirmishes among the leading contenders.The climb was also marked by Froomes spat with the spectator, who got a little too close for comfort.Tour spokesman Fabrice Tiano said later that the race jury had met and decided to fine Froome 200 Swiss francs ($203) for inappropriate behavior.Then Froome went all out in the downhill, reaching speeds close to 90 kilometers per hour. The style remained unorthodox, but it was brilliantly efficient.Crouched over his handlebars for extra aerodynamics, he opened a 20-second lead and used his time trial qualities to resist the chase, posting a sixth career stage win on the Tour.It scared me, Team Sky director Dave Brailsford said. Today he won the race rather than the other losing it. He is a true racer.Tour director Christian Prudhomme was also among those praising Froomes unexpected move, lauding his great panache.Its not the kind of praise Froome is used to getting, having often been criticized in the French media for his riding style, despite having won the Tour twice.The other bad news for his rivals in 2016 was the impressive collective strength displayed by Sky.dddddddddddd The British outfit set the pace at the front and prevented Froomes challengers from trying their luck in hot temperatures, and increased the tempo on the final climb.This big Sky team made our life tough, said Bardet, who lags 23 seconds behind Froome overall, in the same time as Quintana, Fabio Aru and Tejay Van Garderen. And we saw a great Chris Froome, who deserves his victory.Froome gritted his teeth as he crossed the line, raising both arms in celebration then pumping his right fist emphatically.Dan Martin, an Irish rider with Etixx-Quick Step, won a sprint for second, crossing 13 seconds behind, and Joaquim Rodriguez, a Spaniard with Katusha, finished third.Froome leads fellow countryman Adam Yates and Rodriguez by 16 seconds in the overall standings.Although it did not feature a mountain-top finish, the stage took the peloton on a hard ride including the legendary Col du Tourmalet, a punishing 19-kilometer climb at an average gradient of 7.4 percent.After losing more than three minutes to the main contenders in Fridays first Pyrenean stage, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot attacked at the foothill of the mountain pass.Pinot was joined by Alberto Contadors Tinkoff teammate, Rafal Majka, and time trial specialist Tony Martin as riders climbed the Tourmalet for the 84th time in the Tours history.Pinot stepped up the pace in the final kilometer of climbing, cheered by fans lining the road, but was dropped in the Col de Val Louron-Azet. Movistar and Sky continued to push and Pinot couldnt match the frenetic pace imposed by the peloton, falling even further out of contention.After Martin and Majka were also reeled in, Michael Morkov became the first rider to abandon the race, a week after injuring his right leg in a crash during the first stage in Normandy.With all the favorites still together in the main pack, Team Sky riders Mikel Nieve and Geraint Thomas spent long spells at the front and led the peloton in the fast downhill where Wilco Kelderman crashed on a hairpin alongside his Lotto-Jumbo teammate George Bennett. Both men remounted and continued riding on the final ascent.Former Tour winner Alberto Contadors struggles continued and the Spaniard lost 1:41 to Froome, dropping to 20th overall, 3:12 back.---AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this report. 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