REAL MADRID | ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Zidane: “I admire Cristiano, he’s never satisfied”
The Real Madrid coach spoke to the press ahead of his side's trip to Granada and talked about Cristiano and his side's title chances.
Zinedine Zidane held his pre-match press conference today ahead of his side’s trip to Granada tomorrow evening.
Aside from Bale, who is recovering from yet another calf injury, and Pepe, who is suffering from a long-term foot condition, the Frenchman has no further injury concerns and heads to Andalusia with a strong squad.
His side sit in third, one point behind city rivals Atleti who host Eibar this afternoon. Rivals Granada are down in nineteenth and have spent the season struggling in and around the relegation zone.
Here are some highlights from the press conference:
Gareth Bale’s injury: “We’ve decided to slow things down a little. He’s better but not completely recovered.”
A month in the job: “The team is ready to face the challenges ahead. We work very well together.”
Games away from home [just four wins so far]: “The opponent has a lot to do with it. Against Betis we weren’t good enough from the start.”
Facing Granada: “If we start well we have a good chance. Everything will be easier if we score first.”
Chances of winning the league: “The players know they can win the league, though they know it’ll be tough. We’ll do everything we can.”
“The players know they can win the league but they know it’ll be tough"
His relationship with Cristiano: “I admire Cristiano for all the goals he scores, for everything he’s doing. I love his ambition. He’s never satisfied, he always wants more. He’s such an important player for me, for the team and for the fans. I retired at 34 but he’ll play much longer. He looks after himself so well and physically he’s a beast.”
Is Neymar a provoker? "That’s how he is. Some like it; some don’t. When you taunt an opponent too much they don’t like it but it’s a great spectacle. People enjoy that.”