Zinedine Zidane appeared with a serious gesture after the Real Madrid debacle against Shakhtar (2-3) that steepened the team's path in the Champions League. The French coach took responsibility for the disaster. “I have to look for solutions,” he declared. These are his impressions in the flash interview.
Match reading: “A bad moment. The first part … Not so much for the players. They are in the field and running. But I did not see the team as I wanted and when you do not see the team as you wanted it is your fault. Good thing we had a reaction in the second half because they don't deserve that, they are champions and it bothers me. I am responsible and I have to look for solutions because that cannot happen. And that's what I'm going to try to do. They are in the field and need solutions ”.
What was missing: “We have lacked confidence, entering the game as we know how to do and now is a difficult moment. We have reacted, there is a reaction from the players, who are there. Could not tie. Now I'm going to reflect and think ”.
Changes in the eleven: “Yes, it is due to the accumulation of matches because they are players who never rest. We have a match every three days. But hey, there is no excuse. These are decisions that I have made and I have to find what will lead us to become strong again and win. And I have few days ”.
Match against Barça: “We will see. Now you have to watch this game and then prepare the other one. We know that Saturday is coming quickly and we will see ”.
Later, Zidane appeared at a telematic press conference.
The worst first part since you arrived: “It's a bad feeling because in the end a bit of everything has come together. We were wrong in the first goal, but we lacked a bit of confidence, of play, of many things in the first half. Luckily, and I'm happy for my players, who reacted in the second half because they don't deserve these things. It's a bad game, a bad night and I am the coach, I have to find the solution and I did not find it tonight. It is complicated for the players ”.
Attitude was lacking in the first part: “Not. It was lack of everything, when they score three goals in the first half, surely. But after the failure in the first goal it was a difficult game. We lacked a bit of everything, but above all our confidence, which is the most important thing ”.
Do you think it is a problem of attitude, football, physical …? Can you fix it? “Yes, I see myself capable and that's what I'm going to try, it's clear. And the players is what they are going to try to do. That doesn't change anything. We have to find the solution and we will find it. We know where we are and now we have to prepare for the next game and prepare well to change these things ”.
Are you worried your message didn't get through to the locker room? “It is clear that I am responsible. As the first half was negative for my team, of course, something I did not do well. Because what the players try to do is press up, but they score us the first goal and it cost us. We must not forget about the previous games we did. Today is the second defeat, we are not happy, but we are not going to lower our arms. This has just begun and we want to turn this around and all together. It is carried out all together ”.
Madrid, thrashed in the Clásico: “I don't have to answer anything. We are going to present ourselves on Saturday at four o'clock and we are going to prepare the game. What am I going to tell you about what they say, nothing. The important thing now is tranquility and what I am going to answer you is not positive. It is a negative night and we are going to have to change it ”.
Is it the worst night in terms of trend since you are coach of Madrid? “I dislike the players because they have made me win a lot of things, it's a bad game and they don't deserve that. This is football, but you have to think that today it is gray and tomorrow the sun will rise. It's about that in the end. Soccer is sometimes very complicated. I'm very positive and I believe in this squad and we are going to try to move this forward ”.
Are you going home touched? “It is a difficult defeat, of course. Today is a bad night and tomorrow we will prepare what we have to prepare on Saturday and think about the next game ”.