We will play Barcelona when they tell us to – Zidane

Real Madrid Coach Zinedine Zidane insists neither he nor the club will resist any proposed new date for El Clasico.

The tie was originally scheduled for 26 October but due to social unrest in Catalonia, has been pushed back to a yet unspecified date – which La Liga and the Spanish FA now need to confirm.

The Spanish FA, as supported by the clubs, have pushed for the date of 18 December but La Liga instead are arguing for 7 December, with the Real Madrid-Espanyol and Barcelona-Mallorca matches, scheduled for that weekend, be played on Wednesday 4 December.

There are fears that a high-level demonstration could take place and it would be in the best interests of everyone to switch the games for this league campaign.

“What we are going to do is what we are told,” Zidane told a press conference, as cited by Marca.

“Barcelona and we will have the position, if we have to play on 26 October we will play on 26 and if the date changes (this has since been confirmed) we will be prepared. We will play the day we say the right person.

“I have my preference but I will not tell you. Of course, we know it can be 7 December or 18 December, we adapt to that. We will adapt. It will not change anything if I express my opinion, I better shut up.

“What I think as Coach of Madrid is that we will do what they say, we will play when they tell us. I don't like violence, nobody does. There are images that are difficult but I will not go into that.

“Real Mallorca? Yes this is the most important game because it is tomorrow, we know what has happened these two weeks, many players have left for international duty, also players have been injured.

“It has been two days with all the players and having a good game tomorrow is what interests us to all.”

The unrest is also impacting on Barcelona’s travel plans to Eibar this weekend, with the club having to travel to the Basque County on Thursday – to avoid airport disruption.

Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017.

Tags El Clasico Zinedine Zidane
La Liga - Club News