Zinedine Zidane claims his Real Madrid players are not feeling the pressure and instead “having fun” after Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over Celta Vigo.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (x2), Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos ensured Madrid needed just a point in their final La Liga game against Malaga to be crowned Spanish champions, and Zidane took pride in how his side were “enjoying themselves”.
“I don’t feel like a champion, we still have to pick up points,” the Coach said after the game.
“We have to continue with what we’re doing, but we can say that picking up points here was important.
“We’re happy with the three points, but we have to play another match, which is going to be just as difficult or more so.
“Still, the dressing room is happy and feeling encouraged, and it was important to pick up these points.
“Malaga? We’re going to continue with what we’re doing, we can’t speculate. It’ll be another complicated match and we’ll try to play it to the fullest.
“We gave a lot tonight and we have to recover from the effort we put in. We have to think about recovering well.
“It was an end-to-end game in the first half and that didn’t suit us. In the second half, we were better with the ball and did a bit better.
“I don’t look happy? No, I’m very happy but a bit tired because although I didn’t play, I felt tension like everyone else. Still, I’m very happy.
“Ronaldo? He’s feeling very well and physically phenomenal, and not only in terms of goals as he also made an effort in defence. You can see that he’s very well.
“Nacho a substitute? The important thing is that he’s with us. I took of Case[miro], Isco and Cristiano because they were booked.
“In the second half, we managed the game better. Nacho didn’t play, but he’s happy.
“It’s important to enjoy yourself on the pitch, and I think we did. Everyone that loves Madrid enjoys these players.
“It’s been nine months and the most important thing is our game. We suffer and we have to suffer in order to win a League, but the players are having fun and it shows. They’ve been very good in [playing] our game.
“A surprise not to win the League? I think we had a great game, now we’ll start thinking about the next game.”
