Zinedine Zidane reportedly fumed at Real Madrid’s players on Friday for allowing their midweek comeback against Wolfsburg to enter their psyche.
According to Saturday’s edition of Marca, Zidane followed up his dislike for the assertion that Madrid were going to beat relegation-threatened Getafe that afternoon by accusing his players of lacking focus on the trip to Coliseum Alfonso Perez after training on Friday.
“What we have to do is improve every day, train well and be strong,” the Coach said at the aforementioned Press conference.
“We have to stand up in every game. I’m not bothered about what you [reporters] say, that we’re bad physically and things like that…
“It’s normal to say good things when you win and bad when you lose. We did a preseason in winter and we’re now reaping the rewards of a job well done.
“I don’t know if winning all our matches will crown us champions. I know we’re third, but we must be second first.
“I don’t like [Saturday’s game] because it seems that we’ll go to Getafe and win easily.
“That won’t be the case because [Getafe] are playing for their lives. I know their new Coach and I know it will be very difficult.
“I don’t like this match because of the atmosphere. It won’t be easy due to their change in Coach, plus they’re going to press us a lot.
“Still, the players know what is at stake, so we won’t lower our guard and we’ll certainly be focused.
“If we get to within a point of [Barca], I’ll sleep like I always do, but first you have to think about your own game and execute it properly. It’ll be a tough game.
“For us to do something, we’re relying on the teams above us to drop points, but we’re entering the final stretch [of the season] in good form and I’m happy with how we’re doing things.
“If we win something, it’s by thinking we’ve done it together. I won’t talk about Barca’s slump because I don’t like to have a team who are going wrong.
“I’m only focused on my own, and I know we can’t lower our guard. We have to train well and work hard for 90 minutes of every game.
“There will be some changes in the team, yes, but you’ll see [on Saturday].
“When I rotate, I also have in mind that there are players who want to go to the European Championship… Still, I always think about the best team to win a game.
“[Cristiano Ronaldo] has always been [happy]. He never needs to worry, even when he isn’t scoring.
“He’s very happy and at ease with everyone, not just with me… he’s happy with everyone at the club and that can be seen on his face. We’re trying to ensure all our players are always at ease.
“He won’t be rotated and will play [on Saturday].”
