Rodriguez blames Zidane for not giving him a chance

CAIRO – 6 January 2018: James Rodriguez, Colombian midfielder of Bayern Munich, has criticized the French coach of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, blaming him for not having more time in the Madrid team.

James Rodriguez, who is with Bayern Munich in Doha, has addressed his troubled relationship with Zidane, a matter that, until recently, the Colombian striker had always avoided.

“Each coach has his preferences. I think I was not inside them, even though when I played, I gave, scored and gave assists, but everyone has his preferences and we have to respect those of Zidane,” said Rodriguez in a press conference held by the German club.

Rodriguez joined Bayern Munich this summer on a two-year loan from Real Madrid. The Colombian winger left Madrid after he suffered a lack of participation with his team under their French manager, Zidane.

James does not think the same about his current coach at Bayern Munich, Jupp Heynckes, “Jupp Heynckes is a top coach. We talk a lot. It helps me, of course, that I also speak Spanish… little by little I have been finding my rhythm. It helped me a lot to have minutes.”

“I want to stay at Bayern. I am happy and very comfortable here and I do not think about anything else. I really like the stadiums of the Bundesliga, they are always full. You also face very good teams. It's a great league,” said James Rodríguez about his sporting future.

James, 26, participated with Bayern Munich in 18 games this season in all the competitions, scoring two goals and providing four assists, according to WhoScored.com.