The Whites’ team will be looking to secure the victory on this match of the league in order to keep the pressuree on Atletico until the last week when everything will be finally decided. For the second time this week, Real Madrid play away in the league as the Whites head to Bilbao to take on Athletic at San Mamés (6:30pm CET) on the penultimate matchday of LaLiga. Everything is to play for in the final straight of the domestic competition and Madrid know that only a victory will do if they are to keep their title hopes alive.
On Thursday, the side once again refused to throw in the towel by producing an impressive display to overcome Granada at the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium, with Luka Modrić, Rodrygo, Álvaro Odriozola and Karim Benzema all getting their names on the scoresheet. Several Madrid players have chipped in with the goals in recent weeks to help the team’s cause, and they also include Marco Asensio, Eden Hazard, Casemiro and Éder Militão. In the reverse fixture against Athletic in the first half of the season, the Whites secured a 3-1 victory. At the moment, Madrid are on a run of 13 away games unbeaten in the league and will need to repeat ther success of the first part of the season to keep hoping for La Liga
Zinedine Zidane in the press conference: “My players are giving their all and I'm very proud of them”. On his side’s last five visits to San Mamés, they have picked up three wins and two draws. The Frenchman has named his squad for the match as they go in search of three essential points to keep their run going against the Basque side.
Coming as Spanish Super Cup winners: Athletic have had an impressive campaign, which has seen the Basque outfit lift the Spanish Super Cup. They sit comfortably in mid-table on 46 points and the European places are out of their reach, but in recent weeks they have defeated the likes of Sevilla and Atlético. Marcelino’s side will look to its top scorers Berenguer (8 goals and 4 assists in LaLiga) and Williams (6 and 6) to add to their tallies.
The coach continued by saying he hopes Real Madrid can start brightly in this game, stating: “We’ll try to start the game as well as we did the other day in Granada. We have to focus on our match, which is the only one we can control.”
The press conference also focused on Zidane’s future. He started by reflecting on his nearly two decades at the club, saying: “I’ve been here and involved at this club for 20 years. I’m grateful that they signed me as a player.”
He then continued: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m here now and we have a match tomorrow. Anything could happen because this is Real Madrid. I give my all. Then a moment might come when there’s a need for change for the good of all. There are times when you need to be there and times when not, but for everyone’s benefit and not just mine. I make the most of every moment. You don’t know what will happen in two or three years. When I see my players train, it makes me emotional. I like seeing my players train. Then the matches come, but it’s also about the day-to-day work.”
Zidane on Marcelo’s fitness after missing Granada match: “He’ll be available. He had a niggle but it isn’t bothering him anymore, so he’ll be a part of the matchday group.”
In need of an Atlético slip-up: “As ever, we just have to focus on what we can control, which is our game. What happens elsewhere is out of our hands. The main thing is to keep on getting results; we want to win the two games we have left. We’ll be up against a very good side who are doing very well and we’ll look to give it our all.”
About the relationship with the dressing room: “It’s always been about complete and utter mutual respect. Having been a player myself, I know that the players are the most important people. They need an atmosphere where they’ll feel at ease and able to perform. We respect each other, we work hard… We know where we are - at the greatest club in the world.”
On the rumors that other players got annoyed or disappointed when Sergio Ramos and Ferland Mendy started ahead of them in Chelsea second leg: “That’s always going to happen and I understand it. Everyone wants to play. Not just the players who are seen as bigger names. I always respect all my players, they’re the ones who battle and work hard. But the coach has a job to do and has to manage 25 players. That’s not going to change. The players who go on to become coaches are going to experience the same thing; it’s not always easy. The most important thing is to respect the players and I always have.”
Finally, he reflected on the difficult season that Real Madrid have had, saying: “We’ve had a year with many injuries and strange things and I’m proud of my players. They’ve never stopped working and they’re giving their all. For a coach, that’s amazing. As I used to be a player, I know the players are the most important. There is great mutual respect between the players and their coach. We all know we’re at the greatest club in the world and we’re all writing a piece of its history.”
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