MADRID, 25 Jan. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Real Madrid coach, Zinédine Zidane, has defended striker Gareth Bale and assured that he is “the first one who is not happy” with his continuous injuries, which prevent him from having continuity, and explained that this time his loss will be ” little thing, “since he just hurt his ankle and he can't be this Sunday against Real Valladolid.
“He is the first one who is not happy. I hope we will see Gareth with us already on Monday. He wants to be with us and play,” he said at a press conference, where he was questioned several times over the Welsh commitment. “The player wants to be always available. The other day he did a little damage, it's a small thing. Talking to doctors, it's a matter of 3-4 days, and less bad for him. I hope he doesn't get injured. more, so you can have more continuity to train and play, “he continued.
Thus, he stressed that Bale alone “has sprained his ankle a little”, but that in no case is being erased from the matches. “The other day he scored. I will always defend my players, they train every day, they kill each other on the field. They always want to put the Real Madrid shield very high. I don't see it that bad. The only thing is that he has had injuries , and you can't do anything, “he said. “I am always worried that a player is injured. They are the first to suffer. I'd rather have 25 players and make a mess to make the team than have injured players.”
On the other hand, the French coach appealed to the team to maintain their “spirit” to continue winning, starting this Sunday at José Zorrilla. “We are in a good moment and we want to continue with what we are doing. We know that this is difficult, every three days we have a game, and we have to always show the best version we have. Tomorrow it will be a complicated game against a rival who He has lost a game at home, “he said.
Therefore, he wants all his players 'plugged in'. “There are 25 players and everyone has to feel they are important; there are many games, we play every three days and we need all the players,” he said.
In another order of things, he wished luck to the side Alvaro Odriozola in Bayern Munich, where he will play on loan until the end of the season. “I talked with him about this issue and we have decided together the opportunity he has had to play. I hope everything goes well, that he has minutes. He is a charming player, that he has not had minutes, and we will count on him. He is Real Madrid and will have its chance, “he said.
However, he did not want to talk about whether Mariano and Brahim Díaz will leave in this winter market. “It is the player who has to choose what to do. If I have to say it, I will speak directly with them. Now they are here, and since they are here, I will count on them when I can,” he said. “Things are done naturally. It was a decision of everyone, the club and the players,” he added about the marches of Ceballos and Marcos Llorente and the commitment to Fede Valverde.
He also valued the state of form of Casemiro, author of the two goals against Sevilla (2-1) last weekend. “The other day the two goals were a coincidence. I am not surprised that he steps on the area, because he can climb. He is an important player, he has shown it,” he said.
About Vinicius, he recalled that he is “only 19 years old and you have to go easy on him.” “He has to be ambitious and we are not going to control that, just the outside. We have a team of 25 players and when he is not in the group it is because there are important players. We are happy with what all the players do here,” explained.
In addition, he revealed that Eden Hazard “has just started to touch the ball.” “He practically no longer has pain and from Monday he will start working individually and with more ball. I hope he will return soon with the group, because for the mental part he will do well,” he said.
Finally, Zidane refused to assess the way other teams play and if it would be accepted by the Bernabéu. “All teams seek to win, and each one chooses their own way. We have ours. I will not talk about what others do, we want to continue with what we are doing,” he said.
“Each match is different, so we are going to concentrate on making a good match tomorrow,” he concluded, before talking about the possible interest of the French Federation in becoming the next coach. “Now I am here and very happy. My main concern is Real Madrid. There is a lot of work here,” he concluded.