Zidane asks Madrid players to ignore Barcelona’s lead

MADRID: Zinedine Zidane is sending a simple message to his Real Madrid players ahead of today’s match against Barcelona.

Don’t mind the gap.

Madrid trail Barcelona by 11 points with a game in hand before the “clasico.” They also have Atletico Madrid and Valencia to overtake before it can challenge for the title.

That means anything but a victory would put their Spanish league title defense in severe jeopardy before the season reaches its midway point.

But Zidane only wants his players to focus on the upcoming 90 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We aren’t nervous. We have to think about playing a good match, not if we are 11, or eight, or 25 points behind,” Zidane said yesterday. “We are going to have to play a good match against a very good rival.”

Zidane said that whatever the result, his team would keep fighting for the title. But he acknowledged the importance of the game.

“It is without doubt our most difficult match of the season because the games between Madrid and Barca are always beautiful, yet difficult,” the former Madrid midfielder said. “But that is what inspires us. Players live to play games like this one. You are always thinking of this date.”

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, who trained separately from his teammates earlier this week but rejoined them for team practice on Friday, Zidane said his star forward was “100 percent ready” to play. Ronaldo returned to full training yesterday to quash fears he could miss the game. The world player of the year received rough treatment as he scored the winner in the Club World Cup final over Brazilians Gremio last weekend, but Ronaldo had insisted he would be fit for the lunchtime visit of league leaders Barca.

Ronaldo did not train with the rest of the Madrid squad on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday as a precaution.

Madrid will need Ronaldo in the form he has shown of late, having scored five goals in his last four games as the European champions look to claw their way back into the title race.