Zinedine Zidane has admitted that constant speculation about
his future as Real Madrid manager has been bothering him in the build up to
Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Galatasaray.
Real landed in Istanbul reeling from a shock 1-0 defeat to
Real Mallorca, their first loss in La Liga this season which allowed Barcelona
to take over at the top of the standings.
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Just as when his side were humbled 3-0 by Paris
Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month, the latest domestic defeat
has led to suggestions in the Spanish media that Zidane’s job is at risk and
Jose Mourinho could be in line to replace him.
“I won’t say that I’m not bothered by (the
speculation), it does bother me, but all I can do is give everything and think
positively,” Zidane, who has won three Champions League titles as Real
coach, told a news conference on Monday.
“What has happened is in the past and in football
everything you have done gets forgotten quickly, it’s what you do in the
present that matters.”
The 13-times European champions are bottom of Group A with
one point and defeat against Galatasaray would leave their hopes of remaining
in the competition hanging in the balance.
Zidane, however, believes his team can turn things around.
“We all know we have made a bad start in the Champions
League but tomorrow is a new game and we’re going to try and win,” he
said.
“Every game at Real Madrid is like a final, I first
came here 18 years ago (as a player) and I know what it’s like and how you are
always under pressure,” added the 47-year-old.
Real captain Sergio Ramos said the players were also getting
fed up of the uncertainty about Zidane’s position.
The French coach returned to the club in March 10 months
after resigning from the role, after successors Julen Lopetegui and Santiago
Solari were sacked.
“It would be very easy for the club to say Zidane will
stay until the end of the season and then this speculation would end. We are
tired of hearing about all the coaches that could come to Real Madrid,”
Ramos said.
“We’re only focused on winning tomorrow. Everyone has a
different way of measuring form but we’re relaxed, we know that if we work hard
we’ll get our reward.”
Real are still without injured pair Gareth Bale and Luka Modric but Toni Kroos has returned.
Source: Mirror