Zidane: "Tomorrow's game will be the most difficult of all"
Real Madrid face Villarreal on Thursday and Zidane spoke about Eden Hazard: "He's much better, he'll be with us, the pains have gone and that's good news".
Victory against Villarreal at the Alfredo Di Stéfano on Thursday night will be enough to see Real Madrid crowned LaLiga champions, but Zidane was as cautious as ever when he previewed the game in today's press conference.
Toughest game of the season: "Sue, without a doubt because it's the next game. Villarreal know how to play, they are a very difficult rival to play against - as they always have been. I think it's going to be the most difficult game out of the recent games we've played".
Hazard ready to face Villarreal
Eden Hazard's fitness: "You will be able to see for yourself tomorrow, he's much better, he'll be with us. The twinges he has been suffering have gone and that's good news".
The club has asked the fans not to go to Cibeles: "Tomorrow,we have a match. There is a lot of noise here right now - talk about celebrations, holidays, all of that… But we have a game tomorrow and that is only important thing that matters right now. We have to focus all of our energy on that game. There has been a lot of talk elsewhere, but here, the players and all of the people who work at the club are only thinking about tomorrow's game".
Do the players feel like they are champions? "No, not at all. The nice thing we have is the energy that we put in to our job, every day and it is the day-to-day that motivates us. As for everything else… we don't know what will happen".
Just two points needed to win the league: "Two draws won't be enough for me. It's not about what I would prefer - we are here for one thing - to think about tomorrow's game and to go out and win it. That's our motivation and what we have been preparing for. I don't have to think about if we draw tomorrow, or on Sunday… Tomorrow, we will be going all out to win the game, as we do in every game. Having said that, we know we are also up against a very good team".
Modric and Ramos still going strong at 34
Modric's level of form and a time when he might retire: "There are a lot of similarities between his case and mine but the most important thing is how the player feels about it an what he wants to do. At 34, I stopped playing but I'm sure Luka would prefer to keep playing. He's have a great season. We know the great player he is and we enjoy having him in the team, and Sergio too. Both of them are 34".
How is Bale's situation affecting the dressing room: "Oh God, here we go again, another question. We are thinking about tomorrow's game and so is Gareth. He's one of us. You keep implying, trying to put words into our mouths but you are not going to succeed. We are united, we all think exactly the same - Gareth, James, all of us".
The coronavirus league: "We think about our fans because, as you mention, a lot of people are having a really hard time and are still struggling. Football is a way of forgetting about the day-to-day difficulties in our lives. We continue working hard for all of those people who cannot come and watch the games. They'll be watching what we are doing and I hope they are proud of the whole squad. We have to keep going right up the end".