Zidane on Bale, Hazard, Odegaard, Betis, new signings...

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane attended a press conference ahead of his side’s away clash with Real Betis on Saturday. The Frenchman spoke about the game at hand, the return of Eden Hazard, and the possibility of new signings before 5 October, but refused to be drawn into talk about Gareth Bale or the issues at Barcelona.

How are you preparing face the game against Betis?

First of all, we know who we are playing against. They are a good team in this league, we know how they started. Nothing changes – we want to play a good game, doing what we are doing and what we did at the Anoeta (against Real Sociedad last weekend). Improve, you can always improve, but we only think about the game, about playing well. Betis has practically the same squad. They have changed the coach. Pellegrini has experience and can contribute to his team. And that is what he’s doing. Betis has always been a team with quality players. We will see a good Betis this year, for sure.

Could Hazard, Asensio and Isco travel?

They could, but as always, they are players who have just returned. They have done little training ... But we will see. The important thing is that they are well physically. We will see tomorrow. Then on Wednesday we play again, so there are many games. We will see how we do.

Zidane: "We wish Bale the best"

Do you want to sign a nine?

Anything can happen until 5 October. That interests you, but I am happy with my squad, it is the best, I fully trust it. We will work to be physically well and if we are well prepared, we can compete and reach our goals, which is to win.

Bale has spoken from England and not very well about his last stage in Madrid

I have nothing to say about Gareth. I say it again: we wish him the best with everything. We are concerned about ourselves and that's it.

Casemiro did not start the other day. What does Madrid lose when he doesn’t play?

That is my matter. The other day he was a substitute, but tomorrow when you see the team you will bring up another player has not played. This will happen continuously, some will play, some will not, some more, others less. It is the life of a team. It's not going to change. It is my business what each one gives me. They all matter to me and I feel that each player can contribute something for me.

See also:

Zidane: I haven't asked for signings

Have you asked the club for reinforcements?

The squad I have is this one. I'm not going to ask for anything, I don't want anything. Then, as always, anything can happen until 5 October. All the coaches want that day to arrive and let's not talk about who comes and who leaves. But anything can happen.

Has the club communicated to you that it is better not to sign players in order to lower the wage bill of the squad?

I have nothing to say on that. Sorry, these are internal things. If I have to talk to my president, I will not tell you what we talked about. You have your information, but I cannot divulge what happens in here.

Do you see Odegaard in the playmaker role or in another position?

I know the player, he is a different player. He can contribute something higher up the pitch, but also in another role. He knows that there are many positions in which he can play, he has a long journey ahead, he has very good physique. He has played his first game, and like everyone else, we are going to count on him. We are going to have many games. The important thing is that we are all prepared.

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Zidane: Hazard needs time

Roberto Martínez (Belgium coach) has said that Hazard has made a 100% recovery but lacks a month of training

I think the same. He has no discomfort from his injury, the only thing, as always, is that he has had just a few training sessions with the team. He has to go little by little, that's it. But it won’t take long. He's going to be with the team. What I said before the Real Sociedad game is what we want and what he wants also: to come back in and feel 100% well.

Can Jovic and Benzema play together?

Yes, they can play together. But we, as always, are going to have many games, we can play in different ways. Each game is a different opponent and you can choose. But I've never thought that Jovic and Karim couldn't play together. It can happen.

How do you view what’s happening at Barcelona?

I am respectful. I don’t know what happens in there. I don't want to get involved in that, all clubs have their issues, their moments like that. Barcelona is a team that will be there fighting for everything. I have no doubt.