Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has claimed that his side aren’t the favourites to win El Clasico as the encounter is a ’50-50’ one. With a lead of 6 points over Barcelona in La Liga, Real Madrid have a comfortable advantage and the luxury to lose this game.
However, the former France midfielder has promised to give it his best shot and isn’t thinking about the result of the game right now.
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“We always play with a lot at stake, so we'll do the best possible to play a good game. If we play well, if we get into the match and if we concentrate, we can do well.
“We'll try to play a good game. I don't think about that. All we think about is doing the best we can.”
Zinedine Zidane might not have been a first-team coach for even a year, but he has already been enlisted for the FIFA Coach of The Year award. When asked about what has changed since the triumph against Barca earlier this year, he said that he is humbled by his selection, but thinks that he shouldn’t have been among the top three.
“Every day I'm getting better. I'm always learning. But not enough time has passed for me to be included in the list of the three best coaches in the world. I am on the list though and I'm very grateful for that.
“There are lots of coaches who should be there ahead of me, but that said, for me, this is a long process. If I'm a coach for a long time I'll get better.”
Zidane admitted that his strategy against Barcelona will be very intense, stating that the champions are never easy to beat.
“We'll play with a lot of intensity. I didn't focus on the game in San Sebastián because this will be different. And Barcelona are the champions, and the champions are always tough to play against.”
Casemiro back for Real Madrid
Casemiro is back to full match fitness and the former Ballon d’Or winner has confirmed the Brazilian’s place in the starting XI, while also claiming that he is in no rush to push Toni Kroos. Zidane also revealed that Andres Iniesta’s absence won’t change the way Real Madrid will play.
“I've decided [the starting XI]. As with Casemiro, he's with us. We know how much he can give us. He's happy to be back.
“Iniesta won’t change what we will do. He's very important for his team, but him playing won't change what we are aiming to do. With Toni we're taking things step by step.”
Zidane then went on to admit that the key thing about being a coach is to make everyone feel important since every member of the squad counts and helps a team to glory in the long run.
“I try and make everyone feel important. That's my job. This is another type of coaching compared to when I was a player, when there were eleven on the pitch and the rest on the bench.
“Well, now we're lucky enough to have more players. I think this is the way forward. Obviously, there are players who make a difference, but everyone is important. The group is very important and every player is vital.”
The former Juventus midfielder has already won his first game at the Camp Nou as a coach but believes that past is in the past and the future has nothing to do with what happened at the Camp Nou last season.
“I think tomorrow will be a completely different game. I have a word for how we went there, but it's a bad one... How do you say it? We went there [last season] with our ar*e tight. It's going to be a completely different game this year. We're going to try and play as well as we can.”
Zidane then went on to praise his compatriot, who has a good history at the Camp Nou.
“We know how important he is. On the pitch he gives us so much. And in a game like this even more. He's a reference point in games like this and I think he'll do well tomorrow.”
Messi not the only threat for Barcelona
When asked about whether the game will depend on how Lionel Messi performs, he said: “People think they need to win, because we are ahead, but it's not like that. We need to win too. About Messi, he's one of the great players out there, but they have lots of other good players.”
About the lead that his team have over Barcelona, he said: “I don't know what will happen. We're going there to play football. What happens, happens. We never do those calculations, it's not good. We're going there to play a good 90 minutes.”
With the form Real Madrid are in ever since the Frenchman took over the reins from Rafa Benitez, Florentino Perez believes that Zidane is going to be at the club forever since he is eternal. Zidane also seconded Perez’s thoughts, but in a different manner.
“Well it's true I'm going to stay in Madrid for the rest of my life [laughs]. I'm very happy in this city. Florentino gave me the possibility to come here and play at this great club, when others didn't want me, so I'm eternally grateful to him. But I know I need to keep winning games. I'm very grateful for his words.”
When asked about how it feels to win at the Catalans’ ground, he said: “There's nothing like it. I was lucky enough to play those games. I hope we can ensure people enjoy the game.”
Also, Read – El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid Live Score and Commentary
Cristiano Ronaldo still hungry
Zidane then heaped praise on Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, for his exceptional ability as a player and professionalism.
“I always speak to him, but he's very professional, he knows how to prepare for the game. What I'm interested in is how important he is for the team. His energy is incredible. I'm happy because he looks happy, he's in good form. He's still hungry. And that's good for the team.
When asked whether his side are favourites to win, he said: “No. And there aren't favourites. It's 50-50, as it always is.”
Finally, Zidane finished the press conference by admitting that he doesn’t know if Barca has any weaknesses since every game is different. He also stated that he is not surprised by Real Madrid’s brilliant start to the season and that it is a dream for him to be involved in the Clasico as a coach.
“No [I don’t know Barca’s weakness]. Because every game is different. We study them like always. But they don't have a weak spot. They are very strong. Tomorrow you'll see two teams who are wanting to play good football.
“The amount of work we do every day and the quality of the players we have. They are very professional. It [Real Madrid’s start] might be surprising to some, but not to me. It's an achievement we've managed because of the work we do. The players, the staff. Tomorrow things could change. What we have to do is focus, and work hard.
“It's a dream for all the players, to be able to play in a Clásico. You only get two a year. And everyone wants to play. Me too as coach, I want to be involved. There's so much expectation. We can't wait to play.”
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