Under-fire Zidane asks players to stand up and be counted
MADRID: Despite being under pressure ater just one league win since October, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who are traveling to Sevilla in La Liga this weekend, insists he is not planning on resigning.
Real also lost at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions on Tuesday and must beat Borussia Moenchengladbach next week to advance.
Real have drawn with in-form Villarreal, were edged out at lowly Alaves and were hammered at Valencia since their last league victory leaving the champions in fourth place, seven points off leaders Real Sociedad.
“I have the strength needed to turn the situation around and I am going to give everything to do that, so are the players,” Zidane said ater the loss in Ukraine.
“We have to lit ourselves up and think about the next match. We’re on a bad run, there’s nothing else to do other than think about the next match and go ahead.
“In difficult moments, you have to show character,” he added.
Local press have linked former Totenham boss Mauricio Pochetino and ex-madrid forward Raul forward to the Frenchman’s job.
According to newspaper AS captain Sergio Ramos called a squad meeting this week, with Zidane absent, telling team-mates to give “an extra push until the end of the year.”
Saturday’s hosts went unbeaten in the Spanish top-flight throughout November ater a sluggish start to the season under former Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui.
Spain playmaker Suso is set to return for the Europa League champions ater being sidelined for six weeks with a muscle injury.
On Saturday, Atletico host 17th-place Real Valladolid and a win could send them top temporarily with Sociedad heading to Alaves a day later.
Spanish League fixtures (all times GMT): Saturday: Levante vs Getafe (1300), Sevilla vs Real Madrid (1515), Atletico Madrid vs Real Valladolid (1730), Cadiz vs Barcelona ( 2000); Sunday: Granada vs Huesca (1300), Osasuna vs Real Betis (1515), Villarreal vs Elche (1730), Deportivo Alaves vs Real Sociedad ( 2000); Monday: Eibar vs Valencia ( 2000)