Isco: Zidane return to Real Madrid "good news for everyone"
Isco has welcomed Zinedine Zidane's re-appointment, declaring: "He loves Madrid and hopefully he can help steer us back to success".
Isco says it is "good news for everyone" that Zinedine Zidane has returned as Real Madrid coach. Speaking at a promotional event in the Spanish capital on Thursday, the Madrid midfielder - who made just two LaLiga starts under Zidane's predecessor, Santiago Solari - was unsurprisingly upbeat about the future in the wake of the Frenchman's re-appointment this week, having already declared earlier in the day: "This is my opportunity."
Isco's Q&A:
Where does the nickname 'Magia' ('Magic') come from?
It's a nickname my team-mates gave me when I arrived at Real Madrid; Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos started it, and then all my colleagues began to follow suit.
What has been your most magical moment?
I'm lucky to have had a fair few; that comes with being at a club like Real Madrid. I've been here for a few years now, and we've won a lot. There are all number of wonderful memories, but maybe La Décima [Madrid's 2014 Champions League final win over Atlético Madrid] stands out for me.
What does Zidane mean to you?
We all know all about him; as a player for Real Madrid he was different class and as a coach he has won it all, and it's good news for everyone that he has come back to Madrid. It says a lot about him that he has come back now, at a tough time. He loves Real Madrid and hopefully he can help steer us back to success.
Do Real Madrid always bounce back?
At the end of the day, we all know what Real Madrid are all about; it's a club where the demands couldn't be higher, and where we're duty-bound to challenge for every trophy going. And though it hasn't been our year, we're confident that we'll come back stronger than ever. It's in our club's DNA; we have to bounce back next year with more determination than ever to win trophies, and we're already working hard to do that.
What message would you send to the fans?
That we're going to try and win every game we've got left. It's going to be very hard to win LaLiga, but we have to win as many points as possible and try to cut the gap. I'd say to them that we're going to turn this club's fortunes around starting right now, and that we need them right behind us, as they always are.