Zidane: Real Madrid coach's key press-conference quotes

Zidane press conference: Real Madrid coach's key quotes

Inma Flores

Diario AS

Speaking ahead of Saturday's LaLiga clash with Eibar, Zinedine Zidane defended his side's display in Wednesday's defeat at Valencia.

Real Madrid's midweek defeat to Valencia:

"I saw a lot of [positive] things; it's not true that we played terribly."

What Zidane was pleased about in Madrid's display at Mestalla:

"I liked the game we played, the way we pressed. [But] I didn't like the result, or the goal-shyness we showed."

What are you most worried about in the games left this season?

"Difficulties? We accept them. Empty seats? That too. But we can't forget all that they [the players] have achieved. I might sound like I'm getting angry, but I'm not. I'm just speaking with conviction - and I'm not worried."

Is motivating the players the hardest part of your job right now?

"From what I see in training, I can tell they're players who have a lot of pride and want to finish the season well. Defeat always means something, but there were things we did well [against Valencia] and we have to think about that."

Eibar a tough opponent:

"They're a side who'll come here to play their game, to play good stuff. They're having a good season and tomorrow will be an occasion they'll be up for. We're expecting a tough game."

Radomir Antic says Luka Modric shouldn't have won Ballon d'Or:

"What can I say? People can say what they like. I'm sorry he feels that way. He [Modric] deserves his Ballon d'Or - he won it with his dedication and his quality."

Keylor Navas' comments on his future:

"I'm not going to say anything. He has a contract. We'll see what happens at the end [of the season]. I've got a lot of admiration for him, both as a player and a person."

Zidane during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Marcelo's future at the club:

"We'll see. He's an important player here, not least because of all he's done. I want to get him back firing on all cylinders, so he can finish the season strongly. That's my only concern."

Have you decided who's staying and who's going?

"No, I haven't. We have a month and a half of the season still to go, and what I see in every game will be useful to me."

Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone sees his side as the chief domestic obstacle to Barça success, despite Real Madrid's recent European reign:

"I liked that last part of your question. I'm not going to talk about that. We're always up there, albeit not this year."

Read also: "Having never won at Camp Nou makes me optimistic" - Simeone

Eden Hazard:

"He's a player I've always liked; everyone knows that."