Zidane denies reports he's leaving

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane played down reports linking him with an exit from the club following his side's 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

The win means Real go into the final day of the season still in the title race, two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid who have 83.

Zidane's side host Villarreal next Sunday on the final day of the season and the Frenchman insisted that is the only thing he and the team are focusing on.

Some local media reports earlier in the week suggested he has already told the players he is leaving the club at the end of the season — something he denied.

“How could I tell the players I'm leaving now? We're giving our everything for the title and I just say, `By the way, I'm off?' ” Zidane said.

Zidane is in his second spell at Real, having won three consecutive Champions League titles in his first between 2016 and 2018.