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MANCHESTER CITY-REAL MADRID

Zidane spoke ahead of Man City and Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final at the Etihad

Real Madrid are playing with a focus similar to the mindset that swept them to a 10th European Cup success in 2014, head coach Zinedine Zidane said on Monday.

Update:
Zidane spoke ahead of Man City and Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final at the Etihad
JAVIER GANDULDIARIO AS

Zidane, whose jaw-dropping volley inspired Madrid to Champions League glory against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002, was working as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti when the Spanish giants overcame city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 two years ago to claim the long-awaited 'Decima'.

Two years on, he is preparing Madrid for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg away to Manchester City and from what he has seen in the changing room, he believes an 11th European crown may not be far away.

Asked if the 2016 vintage have what it takes to be kings of Europe, Zidane replied: "Without doubt. The players are really focused and concentrated."

"In 2014 there was the same atmosphere in the dressing room. I noticed all the players were really focused, aiming for that goal."

"Now we're in the final straight. We know it'll be difficult, but we're ready for anything.

'We need to be totally focused for 90 minutes, and more if necessary. Then we have the second leg in Madrid next week. All we can do at the moment is focus on tomorrow.'

Zidane expects to be able to call upon star forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, having declared both players fit following injury scares.

It took a hat-trick from Ronaldo for Madrid to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, with Zidane's men prevailing 3-0 in the return leg at the Bernabeu, but Gareth Bale vowed that the lessons from the Volkswagen Arena had been learnt.

"Obviously we had not a great performance away to Wolfsburg, but it's something we've learnt from and corrected," said the Welsh forward, who will play his first game in England since leaving Tottenham Hotspur for Madrid in a world-record transfer in 2013.

"We need to be a bit more patient, maybe not go for the kill straight away. There's two legs to go."

'We just have to be smart, attack when we can and defend when we can. If we stay together and play as a team, we have a great chance.'

Madrid are currently on a nine-game winning run in La Liga, which has elevated them to within a point of leaders Barcelona, and Bale credited Zidane, who succeeded Rafael Benitez in January, for turning their season around.

'He's been amazing since he's come in,' Bale told a press conference at City's Etihad Stadium.

'Not just for me, but for everybody -- he's given us the confidence and the belief to go out on the pitch and express ourselves.'