LaLiga returns for Real Madrid and also Zinedine Zidane to the press room in Valdebebas. The French coach appeared at a telematic press conference in the run-up to Madrid's return to the championship. Madrid plays this Sunday against Eibar at Alfredo Di Stéfano (7:30 p.m.) and the coach, who has completed 200 games on the white bench, analyzed the team's news a few hours after the ball rolled for those of Chamartín .
Before starting the press conference, Zidane wanted to send a message of sympathy, solidarity with all those affected by the coronavirus crisis and thanks to the health workers: “I want to express my love for those who have lost loved ones. And my gratitude to all the toilets, all those people who have worked to save people and for the great work they have done and continue to do. And a memory for all the members of the Madrid family who have left us. It is a complicated and strange moment ” .
How is the team recovered? “We know that we have had difficult moments and many worse people. We are lucky to be able to play again and we are happy. The players are happy and grateful to return to work. We have worked very well physically, I have no doubts and we are ready to start the competition again. ”
How do you face the return at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium? “Di Stéfano is our stadium at the end. We are used to playing at the Bernabéu but we adapt to what we have. We are delighted to play at Di Stéfano. The distances are the same, we have trained there and we are ready to play at Di Stéfano. I don't like to play without an audience ”.
Does your head hurt from having the team in such good shape? “As always, it will not change. This is Madrid and we have the best players. That my head is going to hurt, well, as always. It is my job, it is the profession that touches all coaches, choosing within the 25 players. We have three or four injured. And all the available ones, as you say, are fit and I'm going to choose within that. They will all be on the bench and I like this. They train all week very well and I can have the possibility to choose within 23 and it is good news ”.
Hazard and Asensio are ready to start? “The good news is that they have had time to prepare like the others. Asensio is training normally and Eden is also. They will be available and it is good news. ”
Five changes: “It neither benefits nor hurts. We are living in such a strange moment that now everything that is coming is happy and we adapt to the situation and the players are the first. It is they who are going to play.”
Madrid plays after Barça. Does it harm them? Would it be better to play before Barça? “One thing or another. It is the calendar. We can also talk about rest. And in the end what? We are happy to play again and we adapt to the situation. We have a habit of playing every three days. No excuses. We will prepare the games well. We have a month and a half and we are going to do it to the fullest. The rest is for you, but with love. “
Playing without an audience: “To answer directly, I do not like to play without an audience. It is what I really think. But as always, we adapt to the situation, which is this. There is a government that works for this and we accept what they tell us. to miss, sure, but we adapt and we think about the luck to return to play, the players are the first to be happy. We are going to give everything on the field, even if it is without our audience. “
If there is any special concern: “We are prepared, we have had almost a month of preparation to return to work. It has been enough to recover our physique. I am very positive to be able to play and watch football again. The players, the first to be on the field. It can be better for us to finish a game. Working at home is not the same if there is no competition. We have a long squad and the important thing is to be prepared and happy to be back on the field. “
Your confinement: “I have done a lot of things, but above all a lot of football, because I love it, and a lot of family, because we stayed at home. We all had a bit of a bad time because many people lost loved ones. That is the bad thing, but in the end the good thing is everything returns to normal. A lot of football at home. Cooking, nothing, I'm a mess, I can do things, but nothing, better football. “
First the League, then the Champions: “It is our turn. We are going to finish the League, there are almost a month and a half of competition, 11 games, 11 finals, and then the Champions League will return. It will not change anything or harm us.”
His strangest party of the 200 he has led: “Yes. It will be a little … Without an audience, at Di Stéfano … A little weird it will be, but as we know we are prepared. When the game begins, that's it, we will think about having a good game football and try to win. “
What he missed the most: “Like you, freedom. When they tell you that you have to be locked up, nobody likes it, but it is what has touched us due to a very rare, very hard pandemic. You have to see the positive, and the positive is that things are back to normal. We think only about the future and that things are on the right track. “
Virtual audience: “I prefer to play with normal public, with our people, but it is not possible. Those are my feelings. I think the players like to play with the public more, but we are going to play without them.”
Overcome Del Bosque matches: “I don't think about beating anyone, the important thing is to do what I do every day. I am lucky to be in this great club and, really, I take advantage of every moment because I like soccer and being with my players, which is a blessing. I thank Madrid every day for giving me this opportunity and I will give it my all until the last day, as always. I started playing in this club in 2001 and I'm still here. In this city, in this country, I have friends and talking They told me that I was going to stay here, in the end it is true, and I appreciate it because I love the Spanish and the life here.
Distance to Barça: “Neither too much nor too little, it is the situation, two points behind. We have 11 finals, we are going to try to give everything to win this League.”
11 matches, such as a World Cup or a Eurocup: “I like the comparison, I buy it. Correct. My players know what it is to play the final stages. The important thing is the preparation and I think we have prepared very very well. We are prepared and tomorrow is our first game. What we want to do is give everything on the field. I have faith in what we have worked, now we have to demonstrate it on the field in every game. “
Miss the media: “The truth is that it is because it is also part of my work, being with you, answering and talking about football. I prefer to talk about football, then there is something strange about controversy. I am happy to be able to talk to you.”
Five changes: “It will depend on the game. In one game you can do five and in others, maybe two. It will depend on the game. After 60 days, this has never happened to a player, despite the work he has done at home I have my doubts. For me it is good to have five changes and to see how we finish each game. “
If the League excites you more: “Maybe my Spanish fails me and I express myself a little badly. For me every game we play is important, the same is a friendly against a minor team, which is also important. It is what they taught me with this shirt. I always speak about the League because it is a very long competition. And I like it because if you are well in the League all the time, all year long, you are going to be well in Europe. That is why I say that the League is the most difficult, the most long, the most complicated. Spanish football is complicated, it is played against very good teams, and I love it. All the matches are important. “
With spectators from here to the end of the League: “I do not know what is going to happen, really. I have said my feeling, that I prefer that my players play with the public. At the moment, there is no public. Later, if those who rule here change that, we will see … I have given my feeling because I have also been a player, and the players like to play with the public. It is not an excuse. “