Zinedine Zidane After the game, he analyzed the important victory of Real Madrid against Athletic in San Mamés (0-1). These are the impressions of the French coach.
Key victory: “Very important. A fought match, with a lot of intensity and rhythm, in a field and with an opponent who makes it difficult for you. It is what we have had today. They are three important points. A good victory.”
Media League: “Well, you can ask me, but the League is going to be decided at the end of the season. We know that there are four games left for us and until mathematically it is we cannot relax and think about the title. We continue what we are doing. We have again showed our solidity, our strength and it's good. And that's it. “
Optimism: “In the end I have a lot of experience as a player, no. In the end there are teams that compete very well like today, that were able to tie and things change. You have to be happy for the game, three points. Happy for the effort of the players. But it's not easy. Seven wins out of seven is impressive. “
Penalty to Marcelo: “I think the referee has gone to see the play and I think he has called a penalty because there is a penalty. I did not see it but they told me there is a penalty.”
Athletic claims a penalty from Raúl García: “What am I going to tell you. I can't tell you anything. Everyone thinks. I never mess with the referees, they do their job, there is an image, they look at it and they whistle.”
If the League will be decided by arbitration decisions: “I don't think, this is easy to talk about. And you are there to talk about the controversies. But no. This is a game that we are doing phenomenally, this is soccer. We play on the field, the players give everything on the field. It is very deserved. If you tell me that we are up for the referees … How are you and there are others who think that … I do not get into anything. What I can not accept is hearing that what we are doing is arbitration. You have to respect Madrid and what we are doing. “
Proud: “For everything. When they return the players return well. That is that at home they did well and we are focused on what we want to achieve.”
He then appeared at a press conference:
Defense armor: “It is our solidity, because in the end it is about that. What we are demonstrating is our strength and, above all, our balance. When we lose the ball, we all defend. Lately we have been doing very well. lacking a little brilliance offensively. We can always improve and that is what we are going to do, but the most important thing is to demonstrate defensive strength again today. “
If you are tired of complaints from rivals: “Yes, I am tired, we always talk about the same thing. It seems that we only won the matches because of the referees. We are on the field and we have to respect Madrid and the players, who are on the field. The referee has gone to see the play and has called a penalty because there is a penalty. “
Controversy: “I do not know what they are going to do, if they are going to continue to be around. No one is going to take away our goal, which is to continue playing soccer as we are doing. And nothing more. I have not spoken with Sergio or Marcelo about penalties. There are people who do their job and that's it, we have to respect that. We are going to continue with what we are doing, focus on football and nothing else. “
Ramos, Cristiano and penalties: “They are both reliable, but Sergio is a specialist. He stays with training after that and is a plus for us. “
James and Bale's situation: “He (James) wanted to be left out because of him. About Bale … there are players here, I have to choose and he has not played for two games. You always try to find things with the players, you can ask, very well, I don't say anything, but You always tell me the same thing. There are 25 players and I have to work with everyone. “
Militao featured: “He played a good game. He hasn't played much lately and for example today he played a very good game. The other day it went very well and it was a very physically difficult match. I'm happy for him. All the players are plugged in and when he it's time to play one. Militao has done well. “
Details about her conversation with James: “They are ours. I have asked, I have answered and that's it. I am not going to talk about that anymore.”
Message to stop the euphoria: “What we have to do is think about what we are doing, nothing more. We cannot listen to things from outside. The League is going to decide at the end, as always in this competition, as many times at least, and that is not going to change. We are focused on the games we have left. We have to congratulate the players for what they are doing. “
Less nice game: “It is a bit of everything, but physically because we play every three days and even next week we are going to play on Friday and then three games in a week to finish. Something will affect the team, but not only us, but Everyone, I am seeing everyone and it is difficult to create occasions. The physique is very important. Physically we are all a little on the same line, it is difficult for us. For example, at the end of the games: when we finish there is a lot of difference from the beginning. “
“Today we do not grant anything, not even the minimum”
The French coach also spoke on Real Madrid TV, where he emphasized the team's work.
What level of satisfaction are you going with?
“Very high. There are three other very important points for us with a very hard-fought, hard-fought game, against an opponent who always makes it difficult and difficult for you. Now there are seven wins out of seven. That is enormous. Great satisfaction and above all congratulate the players because they are the ones on the field. “
He always talks about the quality of his players. How important is also the intensity they give in each of the matches?
“The intensity is obvious, because in the end it is what marks the game. But more than that is our strength, the balance of the team. Because football is about that, defensive-offensive transition and we are interpreting it very well, especially when it comes to defending. If you don't concede, then we know that one can come. “
How important are the wingers, who in the last two games have been protagonists in causing the two penalties?
“It is our game, we have to attack. Not all games do it well, but our DNA is to go for the game and attack. Attacking with the wings, because it is they who sometimes make the difference.”
Ramos said that at the end of the season this team will also be remembered for the defensive numbers. Today again the goal to zero. How calm and safe does the team keep keeping the goal at zero?
“It is enormous. In addition, Sergio is our leader and he handles all that very well with the team. The good thing now is that now we are very involved, because football is the details and today we do not grant anything, not even the minimum. That is concentration that we put into everything we do on the field. And then the three points in these seven victories are the fruits of work. “