This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
As the Spanish Super Cup final approaches, coaches Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid and Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid have emphasized their focus on growth and improvement.
Speaking in Jeddah ahead of the match, Zidane reflected on his return to Real Madrid last season, stating that he considers himself a 'better' coach than during his first term from 2016 to 2018.
"Of course, you get better with the years," Simeone agreed, in his ninth season as Atletico coach.
Both coaches linked growth as a coach to growth as a person, with Zidane crediting his team's progress to the valuable insights of those around him.
"I listen a lot, because the people around me are really worthwhile. That's why I'm making a lot of progress as a coach, as a person, and that's always been my goal," he said.
Despite having won three straight Champions League titles in his first spell at the Bernabeu, Zidane feels he has improved at his job.
"I consider myself better, I feel good, I feel I'm progressing," he said.
Atletico, on the other hand, are in a 'transitional year' after overhauling their squad last summer, according to Simeone.
"You can see that they want to improve, and that gives me immense hope," he said, praising the team's young players.
