ZIDANE CALLS FOR CALM
Real manager says there is a long way to go despite slump
IN the space of just five games Real Madrid have gone from red hot La Liga title favourites to trailing rivals Barcelona by seven points ahead of today’s trip to Alaves.
When Real swept a crisis-ridden Barca aside 5-1 in the Spanish Super Cup last month, Zinedine Zidane’s men were expected to romp to the title.
Instead, disappointing home draws against Valencia and Levante were compounded as Real failed to score for the first time in 74 games when Real Betis became the first side other than Barcelona or Atletico Madrid to win at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga for six-and-a-half years on Wednesday.
“We have dropped seven points in a small number of games but there is a long way to go and we can’t throw everything we have done until now in the bin because of two or three average games,” insisted Zidane.
“I know that many people don’t like this work when things go wrong, but we have to accept it and be calm.
“The league is very long and we will stay calm within the group because we will lift ourselves and we know we will have better days.”
Going on the road this weekend may come as a relief to Real as they have shone on their travels this season in wins at Deportivo la Coruna and Real Sociedad as well as beating Barca and Manchester United in the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups respectively.
“It seems like if we don’t score early at the Bernabeu we start to get anxious,” admitted midfielder Isco.
“It is something we have to improve and it is better that it happens now at the start of the season when there is more room for error.”
Real can reduce the gap on Barca to four points before the leaders travel to Girona for a first ever Catalan derby between the two in the top flight.
The most enticing clash of the weekend comes at the Wanda Metropolitano as third hosts second when Atletico Madrid welcome Sevilla today.
Diego Costa is expected to be paraded on his homecoming after Atletico agreed a reported club record fee of €55 million (RM277 million) to bring the man that fired them to the title in 2013/14 back to the club from Chelsea.
Costa won’t be able to play until January, however. AFP