- Zidane
Madrid (AFP) - Zinedine Zidane indicated on Friday that
he wants to stay at Real Madrid next season.
But
Real´s coach admitted his future will depend on results, with his team sitting
third in La Liga, 15 points adrift of Barcelona, and relying on the Champions
League for a major trophy this term.
Zidane
had previously stayed guarded over his desire to remain at the club but appears
now to have declared his hand. Real travel to Las Palmas in the league on
Saturday.
"Yes,
I would still like to stay as coach of Real Madrid," Zidane said.
"Here we depend on the results, it has not changed, it will not change, it
is the requirement of this club and I accept it.
"I've
been here 18 years, I know how Real Madrid functions," said Zidane, who
arrived at the club in the summer of 2001.
"I do what I like doing, I do it thoroughly and if
the question is, do you want to continue? Then yes I will continue. I do not
feel tired, not at all."
Despite
winning the Champions League in each of his two seasons in charge at Real, as
well as the La Liga title last year, Zidane has come under pressure in recent
months.
Real's
limp defence of their domestic crown, a shock exit to Leganes in the Copa del
Rey, and their poor start in Europe, where they finished second in the group
behind Tottenham, combined to put Zidane's position in doubt.
But the
mood has changed since Real beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
this month and victory over Juventus would only enhance Zidane's cause further.
His team
play Juve on Tuesday in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Turin.
First,
however, Real face a trip to Gran Canaria and Las Palmas, hoping to close the
gap on second-placed Atletico Madrid to one point before Atletico play
Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
"We
hope to take second place, little by little," Zidane said. "Of course
we have our minds on Tuesday but tomorrow we have a match and to execute on
Tuesday, we have to execute well tomorrow."
Sergio Ramos has picked up a knock and Isco has a back
problem, with Zidane confirming neither would travel with the squad this
weekend.
Zidane
insisted he has no issue with Isco, who followed his hat-trick for Spain
against Argentina on Tuesday by saying he does not feel the same confidence
playing for Real as for his country.
"He
said it clearly, he is happy. Maybe he does not have the best role, but he is
important," Zidane said.
"The
player wants to play more, like everyone, but I can only choose eleven and I
have 25. Isco is a Madrid player and he is going to stay here."
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