According to AS, Zidane will hold his first press conference as France coach on Tuesday at 5 PM CEST.

This marks the first time in 20 years that the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner will sit behind a press conference podium for the French national team. All eyes will be on him, but former French national team press officer and PR consultant François Manardo believes Zidane will face little pressure: "When expectations are very high, you don't focus on quantity, but on quality. The day he speaks, you'll be glad he's willing to speak. Everything will become easy."

In short, expectations are so high that Zidane's appointment has long been anticipated, and the credibility he enjoys among journalists and observers will far exceed that of his predecessors. "I tell you with my eyes closed, he can satisfy everyone," Manardo concluded.

However, the sports world hasn't seen such a high-profile statement in a long time. Tristan Molineri, an image consultant for active players like Mathis Tel, Leny Yoro, and Facundo Medina, believes Zidane is taking a certain risk by stepping out of his comfort zone and returning to France: "He arrives with immense goodwill, gaining huge support even before his first match. But this comes with huge expectations; his experience at Real Madrid reinforced his image as a calm, elegant, and protective leader, but it also made observers more demanding."

Returning to France, Zidane is putting himself in a dangerous position. He risks damaging his "winning machine" image – he has always succeeded wherever he went before. He will be in the spotlight, facing his own country, and may encounter issues that sometimes extend beyond football. Before him, Deschamps often had to comment on players' political and social stances. In an election year, Zidane may also find it hard to avoid. "I believe Zidane will maintain a certain distance; he won't speak on all topics," Molineri said. "He will maintain a certain low profile. As far as I know, at Real Madrid, he successfully kept the focus on the pitch. For these kinds of topics, I think he will try to avoid them."

The new France coach is not without media experience. In Madrid, he coached and led the world's best club to glory, facing immense pressure, perhaps even greater than what he will face at the French Football Federation. Manardo believes this cannot be compared to the "washing machine" that is Real Madrid: "It's a completely different pace from what he had there. The French national team receives a lot of media attention, there will be a frenzy from the presentation to the first match, and that's it. After all, he coached Real Madrid for three seasons, but that was another world."

At Real Madrid, he sometimes held four press conferences a week, an exercise he disliked. At the time, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez kept a low profile with the media, and without an official spokesperson, only Zidane spoke. "He never liked talking to the media," said Carlos Forjanes, a reporter who followed Real Madrid for AS. "It was an uncomfortable situation for him, but he got through it because of his excellent sporting results at Real Madrid. He had to spend a lot of time answering questions related to the club's system, and his discomfort and pain became increasingly obvious and noticeable. The relationship was normal, but he completely avoided communication and had no interest."

Spanish journalists confirm that the World Cup and European Championship winner would get annoyed when he felt questions were too negative or journalists were exaggerating. For example, in the middle of the 2021 season, when asked about his future, Zidane surprisingly said, "As soon as we lose or draw, I have to leave. I'm not happy, even very annoyed, because I don't think I should be treated like this."

Despite these rare emotional fluctuations, Zidane is generally known for his calmness and detachment. He is a good communicator, but in his own way. He doesn't seek sensationalism or aim to leave journalists with catchy quotes; his words always revolve around the collective. "I've never seen Zidane nervous, it's truly remarkable," said Spanish journalist Sergio López. "He is very quiet, formal, elegant. His answers are brief but never rude, never confrontational. He is an ice man, inside and out."

Zidane maintained this calmness during his many years abroad, away from the French public, media, and criticism. On Tuesday, he will begin a new phase in his life, in France, at the helm of a highly mediatized national team with immense public resonance. In addition to sporting pressure – the goal is to lead the French team to another major title, perhaps starting with Euro 2028 – he already knows that every word he says will be scrutinized.

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