ZINEDINE ZIDANE has vowed to ‘fight until the last day’ as he battles to keep his Real Madrid job.
The Frenchman was under temporary pressure after back-to-back defeats and is also dealing with unrest in his squad.
Zinedine Zidane is not thinking about resigning from Real MadridCredit: AP:Associated Press
Real lost 1-0 at home to Cadiz on October 17 before a 3-2 Champions League defeat away at Shakhtar Donetsk.
But having embarrassed Lionel Messi and Co in Saturday’s 3-1 El Clasico win, the pressure has lifted somewhat.
But asked whether he was concerned about his future ahead of tonight’s Champions League trip to Bosussia Monchengladbach, Zidane was bullish in his response.
He said: “I think about tomorrow’s game, not whether I thought about resigning or not.
“I will fight until the last day. The rest… we’ll see ”
After El Clasico, footage emerged of midfielder Isco criticising the time of Zidane’s substitutions.
The Spaniard was an unused sub in the Nou Camp and recently lashed out at Zidane not not playing him enough.
The report suggests Isco – seen wearing a face mask – said to Real Madrid team-mates Marcelo and Luka Modric: “If he has to bring me off, he substitutes me in minute 50 or 60 of the game, sometimes at half-time.
“If he has to put me on, he puts me on in the 80th minute.”
Isco seems to find himself in a similar position to Gareth Bale under the 48-year-old but Zidane quickly brushed away suggestions of unrest.
He said: “He is ambitious and he wants to play.
“Everybody wants it but it’s my responsibility that they play or not.
“They must be ready when it is their turn to play.”
After El Clasico, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman criticised the decision that saw Clement Lenglet concede a controversial penalty, which Sergio Ramos won and scored at a key time in the game.
But Zidane was unfazed by his rival gaffer’s comments.
He said: “It doesn’t bother me that they talk, that’s the way it is. We are left with what we did there – fight, stay focused, work.
“We are happy with what we did last weekend against Barcelona, as a team. We just look at our work.
“It is the game we needed to play. We have to play how we did in Barcelona and try to play a good game.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
