Zinedine Zidane spoke in press conference just one hour after knowing his rival in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and one day before facing Athletic Club in La Liga. The Real Madrid manager joked about the possibility of fixing the draw: “I laugh and that’s it”.
The French coach only had good words for Ancelotti. We have to remember that he worked as an assistant coach when Los Blancos won the 10th Champions League in 2014: “It will be special for me, I learnt a lot by his side and he did great things for the club. Now we don’t have to think in the Champions League but in San Mamés”, Zidane said.
The manager also analyzed a bit Bayern Múnich: “I didn’t speak with Carlo, I don’t think they fear us. They have a good team and we know they are very strong, they are doing great and it’s going to be a great game for football”.
Zidane is happy to play the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu: “I learnt a lot with Carlo and he’s a good person. We knew what he did here and the tie is 50-50. Playing the first leg there could be better. I don’t have any preference, we are going to play away and we know we’ll have to score there, and then in the second leg”.
Changing the topic, Real Madrid face Athletic at San Mamés, a very difficult team at home: “The only game they lost at home was against Barça. We know it will be tougher than usual, and we know is a hot ground. We’re going to try to get points and play a great game”.
Until the end of the season, Real Madrid have to face 12 difficult games: “We have the pressure until the end. If we can repeat what we did last year would be great. We depend on ourselves but we know it’s going to be long and tough and we’re going to see game by game”, Zidane commented.
Finally, the manager spoke about the two difficult games on the road Los Blancos have to face against Athletic Club and Celta Vigo: “I don’t know if these games worth a title but these three points are very important. They are going to defend very well and we know we’ll suffer. We’re working well, we have confidence and personality and we have to put all the ingredients to win the game”, Zidane finished.
