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REAL MADRID

Zidane on Hazard injury, Atalanta, Rodrygo, Casemiro, Asensio...

Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema spoke to the media ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League meeting with Atalanta on Tuesday.

Zidane on Hazard injury, Atalanta, Rodrygo, Casemiro, Asensio...

Atalanta: "They are a very strong team and we can't think that we've got them with the result of the first leg. It's our game tomorrow. We're only thinking about this match and the players are focused on it. It's a final. We know we have to put in a great performance to get through and we know that we're playing against a very strong side, with their strengths and their qualities".

Hazard injured: "He is not fit to be with us. We will find out soon and I can't tell you any more. I can't explain these things to you. I hope it's not much because we have to be positive. He's a player who's never been injured or not been injured much in his career and this is a new situation for him. We're there for him and we want him to get better".

Patience with Hazard: "We want to help him and hopefully he'll be with us soon. Our fans have to wait for him. We know the type of player he is and our fans want to see him play, as do the coach, the club and his teammates. We're going to be patient and wait".

Three-man defensive system: "We have played like this in several games, it is part of our game. We can also do it with four. Tomorrow we will see."

Fede Valverde: "He is better, he is very well now. The injury is in the past. He wants to contribute what he has and we know what he can contribute. He is ready.”

Asensio: "He is focused on what he’s doing. We will always ask for more, because he is important. Everyone has their say, I know that he will contribute something to the team when he plays. The goals will come over time.”

Rodrygo: "He's a player who's adapted well to our league, he's for the present and the future and he's improving a lot. We're happy with him and we know the quality he has, especially with the ball. We have to let him continue with his normal development, but we're very happy with him".

Casemiro's absence: "You'll see how we're going to play, but we have other players. I'm not worried about this. It usually happens, due to injury or sanctions or other factors ... we have others, we manage it with other players."

You never complain. Can that hurt you?: "I'm very lucky to be here, I don't complain, it doesn't mean anything, from time to time I do. I'm the way I am, I'm not going to be someone else. I'm not going to scream or do things that aren't me."

Benzema on contract, Ronaldo, Hazard

Is Spanish football being below the likes of City, PSG, Bayern?: "If I'm honest, I don't know if there are favourites. In football now we see big teams losing against small teams. Any team, if they have belief, can reach the final. We are alive and we can reach higher. I do not agree that Spanish football is less now.”

On Madrid scoring goals in the last minute recently: “It doesn't worry me; the teams are getting behind the ball [after they score]. For example, against Elche, their ten players got behind the ball. We had to be patient. It was a small comeback, we want to score more goals, but the important thing is the three points."

Contract extension: "I go day by day. I enjoy every training session, every game. I have a contract until 2022 but my door is open if the president wants to renew me. This is the best club in the world."

Ronaldo and his possible return: “I did a lot here with him, a lot of goals and assists. It was three years ago. He's at another club now. I'm not the president or the coach. I don't know if he's good or not at Juventus. Playing with him again ... He was always good to me. And he always scores goals.”

Hazard injury: "He has been unlucky since he arrived. I am sad for him because he is a top player. He is sad because he wants to show that he is a world star. We need him."