Zinedine Zidane took to the media room at Anfield ahead of his side's final training session before Wednesday night's meeting with Liverpool (9pm) and the boss had the following to say: "We know what sort of game we'll face, I'm sure it'll be tough and we'll just continue to do what we've been doing. We have to compete, defend well and attack them and we're ready for this return leg".
Zidane has made a relatively short press conference providing short answers to the journalists and preferring to be somehow confidential. He has a plan in his head and does not want to reveal to much to the public and the opponent.
Zinedine Zidane has made clear that his players are prepared to face Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League quarter final tie. The Frenchman also stressed that Real Madrid will attempt to come out victorious from the game with the Reds despite having a two-goal advantage from the first leg.
"We won't be holding back. When Real Madrid take to the pitch, we do so to win. After the effort we've put in over our last two games, what with the first leg and the Barcelona match, it's more of the same tomorrow, but we're used to that. It'll be an extremely tough game and we can progress to the semi-finals and we'll have to go all out. We've had a lot of players out, but we have to keep going. We're ready".
Team’s physical state according to the head coach:
“The mental and physical aspects go hand in hand. We’re fine, but we want to put in another great performance and that’s what we’re going to need to progress. The most important thing is that the team’s ready to compete and we’re going to try and win the game”.
Injuries that have striken Madrid in this period:
“This group always comes together in adversity and shows its spirit. I’d have liked for all of them to have been available, but we go with who we’ve got and we want to put in a big performance”.
“THIS GROUP ALWAYS COMES TOGETHER IN ADVERSITY AND SHOWS ITS SPIRIT”.
“It’s a really odd season for many reasons, but there’s nothing we can do to change that. All we can do is recover properly every time we’ve got the chance to and the schedule is the same for everyone. We’re going to keep going, we’re in the hunt in the two competitions and we’re going to keep going until the end”.
No fans at Anfield
“We also played behind closed doors at our place. That’s the way things are in this current situation, although we hope we can welcome the fans back in the future”.
The Champions League or LaLiga?
“We’re not going to choose one of the competitions. We want to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve got another game tomorrow and that’s all that’s on our minds. We want to compete and try to get through”.
Valverde’s return to fitness - Zidane also made clear that Fede Valverde has fully recovered from some discomfort he had after the game against Barcelona. However, the French coach didn't reveal which player will feature at right-back on Wednesday.
“He’s back and will be at 100% and with the team. We’ll see how we work things tomorrow, but, as I say, he’ll be at 100%”.
About Odriozola, who will replace Lucas in the right wing of the defence:
“He hasn’t played much this season, but he’s committed and came on the other day against Barcelona. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see if he plays or not. I’m not going to tell you anything now”.
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