Rodriguez has nothing to prove to Real, says Zidane
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said James Rodriguez “doesn’t have anything to prove” as the Colombian midfielder takes his place in the Bayern Munich squad aiming to inflict defeat on his parent club tonight.
Bayern host Real in the Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg, with Rodriguez in contention to feature for the German champions.
The 26-year-old Colombian joined Bayern from Real on a two-year loan spell last summer, and Uefa rules allow for loan players to face their parent clubs.
However, Zidane does not believe Rodriguez will be driven by a desire to prove Real wrong for letting him leave.
“I think he will be motivated because he is a football player,” said Zidane, who is aiming to guide Real to a third successive Champions League title.
“He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Anyone that thinks I am against James is wrong. He will want to go out and prove himself because he likes football and that’s it.”
Asked why he decided to let Rodriguez leave Real, Zidane insisted he wanted him to stay.
“I didn’t want James to go, he decided to go,” the Frenchman said. “I never had any problem with James and it’s more about what is said in the press.”
Rodriguez is not the only player set for a reunion. Toni Kroos spent seven years at Bayern before moving to Real in 2014 and the German midfielder is expecting a tough battle with his former side.
“We have to be physically and mentally prepared and we are,” said Kroos, who helped Real defeat Bayern in the quarter-finals last year.
“All players like to play in these games and I hope we go out and play a great game. Last year, it was very tight. I don’t think there’s a clear favourite in this rivalry. The things in the past don’t really worry me but what’s important is what happens on the field.”
Having won the 2013 Champions League with Bayern under Jupp Heynckes, Kroos is aware of his former manager’s record in the latter stages of the tournament. Heynckes has never lost a Champions League semi-final, and Kroos is not surprised by his success since returning to the Bayern dugout earlier this season.
“He’s 72 and it’s amazing that he’s still a coach,” Kroos said. “He’s managing to keep this together. In the past, there were a few problems with communication but it seems now that everything is going in the right direction.”