New Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is expected to play without a defensive midfielder.

Zizou was named new coach yesterday after the sacking of Rafa Benitez.

The Frenchman was promoted from his job with Castilla, where he employs a 4-2-3-1 system. That's two central midfielders, not the holding defensive midfielder that Benitez insisted upon.

Zidane also is prepared to go against the club's recommendations, having refused to mollycoddle Martin Odegaard during their 12 months together.

One Castilla source told AS: "He is sometimes a puzzling character. When he addresses you, you notice his magnetism, but sometimes a couple of months will pass without talking to him.

"He doesn't give epic and explosive talks, like other coaches, instead his dialogue is cold."