Three Champions Leagues. Back to back to back.

In modern football, that simply does not happen by accident.

And yet, Zinedine Zidane’s managerial reign at Real Madrid is often reduced to a single explanation: he had great players.

In this episode, we go beyond that simplification.

We revisit the circumstances of Rafa Benítez’s dismissal and the fractured dressing room Zidane inherited in January 2016. We examine how the reintroduction of Casemiro restored structural balance, how the Kroos–Modrić–Casemiro midfield became the spine of European dominance, and how Zidane quietly transformed Cristiano Ronaldo from a touchline winger into a decisive penalty-box striker.

We break down each Champions League campaign in detail:

• 2015–16: From the Wolfsburg comeback to the Milan final against Atlético Madrid.
• 2016–17: The diamond system, squad rotation, and the tactical dismantling of Juventus in Cardiff.
• 2017–18: The path of giants — PSG, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool — and the art of tournament survival.

Beyond tactics, this episode explores the psychological architecture of the three-peat: player sacrifice, dressing room trust, ego management, and Zidane’s relationship-based leadership model. From Benzema’s adaptation to Isco’s role as Juventus’ “pain point,” to the impact of Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio in high-pressure moments, we analyse what truly held the structure together.

Finally, we address why Zidane walked away in 2018 — and how recognising the end of a cycle may have been one of his most intelligent decisions.

This is not a highlight reel.
This is a structural breakdown.

Because winning once can be momentum.
Winning twice can be form.
Winning three times in a row is design.

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A frustrating night as we see a limp display against Arsenal despite fielding a very strong XI. Struggles throughout midfield and attack and we were left wanting a team that had 10 men for almost the entire game. Talking about this game is Nabil, who talks about the starting line up, the key moments, the frustrating chance missed and of course, what it means for the return leg next week. What did you make of the result against Arsenal? Do let us know in the comments section.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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The Reds are finally back in action after the Covid hiatus and we have convincingly beaten Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup. An early scare with our defense exposed but goals from Kaide, Fabinho, and Bobby set up a fantastic comeback in the FA Cup as we progress to the next round. Watch our review of the win against the Shrews. Do let us know in the comments section what you made of that win.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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 It was a frustrating night for us as we fell to defeat at the King Power Stadium. A disappointing performance all around as Salah missed a penalty, Mane missed such an easy chance and we just dropped way below our usual standards. Watch as we talk about the lineup, the goal we conceded, and how incredibly difficult this result makes our title run-in.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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We play an injury-ravaged Leicester today after a disappointing draw against Spurs. We, of course, just played Leicester in the Carabao Cup which made for one of the best games at Anfield this season. We sat down with Akash & Vedant from Leicester City India Fan Club and talk about the common link that is Brendan Rodgers, what did we make of the win in the Carabao Cup with a massively changed team, what are we thinking about our team at almost full strength and Leicester with their injury concerns. Watch as we discuss all this and more in this preview with Leicester City India. Let us know in the comments section how you are feeling about this clash and what are your expectations.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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The Reds have created history in the Champions League! The first English side to win 6/6 games in the group stage as we go marching on to the Round of 16. Jurgen Klopp fielded a much-changed side to face AC Milan at San Siro, albeit with some surprises in the starting lineup. With brilliant performances from Oxlade Chamberlain, Nat Phillips & our Lord and savior - Divock Origi. We now look forward to welcoming an old friend at Anfield.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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Luis Suarez, the man, the enigma, was back at Anfield last week for the second time and he has left both times disappointed and empty-handed. It was also a night where the Anfield faithful booed their old hero. Was it right? Is it a big deal? Have we treated him too harshly? To talk about that incident, and his time as our number 7, the incidents surrounding him, the times beyond, and much more, we got Shivangi and Ram. Watch as we discuss the mad genius of the man, the influence he has had on Liverpool, and what kind of legacy will he leave behind - both for Liverpool Football Club and as a footballing personality. We had a lot of laughs recording this and thoroughly enjoyed it, and we hope you have fun watching it as well. Have a look and let us know in the comments section what your take is on the man, and whether you think the booing incident was right, wrong, or just plain blown out of proportion.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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 It has finally happened. We have lost a game this season. In a tricky fixture against David Moyes' men, the reds have come up short and we have come back from the capital with nothing to show. What did we make of the starting lineup, the goals we conceded, the goals we scored, and of course, the overall performance against West Ham. Have a look!

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

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 With qualification for the Round of 16 in the UCL sealed, we now look forward to another international break and also, the big question looms large - how are we going to deal with the absence of Salah, Mane & Keita during January when they are away for AFCON. These same players are also part of the group whose contract runs out in 2023. How do we deal with it, what should be the approach? To discuss all this and more, we have a special guest, Jonathan Higgins, a prominent sports broadcaster and journalist, who has worked with the likes of Redmen TV, This is Anfield and more, who is also a massive Liverpool fan like us. Watch as we discuss the season so far, how do we approach the contracts for the front three, Keita, Chamberlain, etc., do we give Salah the money? What knock-on effect will it have on the rest of the squad, and of course, how do we deal with the situation in January during AFCON when Salah, Mane & Keita depart for national duty. We absolutely loved recording this and we hope you have fun watching or listening as well.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

Also, don't forget to join our 21/22 FPL and win a 100% authentic jersey of the club you support. More details on our channel. Don't forget to follow the podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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We have done the job in UCL and finished top of the table. A professional performance from the reds with goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane, and impressive performances from Trent, Oxlade Chamberlain, and Kostas Tsimikas. What did we make of our win against the Spanish Champions, what does it mean for the season ahead, now that we can actually afford to rest some players in the remaining couple of games. Watch our review of the win against Atletico Madrid, which seals the top spot in the group and qualification to the Round of 16.

Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below.

Also, don't forget to join our 21/22 FPL and win a 100% authentic jersey of the club you support. More details on our channel. Don't forget to follow the podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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