"LaLiga's over; I didn't expect the game to turn out this way"

Zinedine Zidane faced reporters after Real Madrid's defeat to Atlético in this afternoon's derby.

Why is the team suffering a dip in form? “Maybe it's down to attitude, I don't know. I'm not happy with the game we put in, I can't be happy with what happened out there or with the game we put in. What's important now is looking to the next game.  Before you ask me, the league is over. I said as much yesterday. If you lose points, it's going to be even more difficult. That's not to say that we are going to treat the league as though it's finished - we still have games to get through”.

How are you going to lift morale? “Before the Champions League, we have a game on Wednesday and we need to prepare for that, play to the best of our ability and win. It's our duty to look foward to the next game and that's what we're going to do. Today has been a big blow for us. Losing a derby to Atlético at home is tough to take”.

Does your squad lack depth? “I have complete faith in the players. I'll always stand by them and they'll always stand by me. There will be changes next season - possibly a new coach too. Our objective is to carry on whatever happens. We've got things to do, we're not out of everything. But I didn't expect today's games to turn out like this”.

Changes: “We have a game on Wednesday, I'm not going to go crazy. When we win I don't get carried away and nor do I go mad when we lose. I'll field what I think is the best team”.

Message to the fans: “We've still got things to do this season. We have the Champions League and league games. We have to continue with what we are doing. Of course it's a difficult moment, losing a derby is a 'bummer', sorry to use that phrase but we have to be professional and think about the next game because Madrid never gives up. We're always going to get criticism - the players and the coach. We need to find a solution - and that means winning on Wednesday”.

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What went wrong? “The players play the games but I am the one who is responsible. I have to find a solution so this doesn't happen again. It's our first home defeat against a rival who were ahead of us in the table but it wasn't what I was expecting. When you get chances, you have to put the ball away, it's a simple as that…”.

Is the problem the team physical condition? “For me, it's not physical, the problem is mental. We've worked hard in the weeks running up this game, we've done everything...  Atlético had a game last Wednesday and look at the game they put in today. We lack a bit of everything - running more, putting our chances away, doing more...”