- Title: Zidane expecting tough match against Sevilla
- Date: 3rd January 2017
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JANUARY 3, 2017) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID PLAYERS DIVIDED IN TWO GROUPS PASSING THE BALL STRIKER CRISTIANO RONALDO CHASING THE BALL REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE TALKING TO STAFF MEMBER PLAYERS PASSING BALL PLAYERS PASSING BALL WITH HEAD / LEFT BACK FABIO COENTRAO AND RIGHT BACK DANILO CHASING THE BALL FORWARD KARIM BENZEMA WALKING DURING TRAINING / PLAYERS PASSING BALL TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS PLAYMAKER JAMES RODRIGUEZ AND COENTRAO CHASING THE BALL VARIOUS OF PLAYERS RUNNING ZIDANE ATTENDING SESSION SOCCER BOOTS / LEFT BACK MARCELO CHASING BALL JAMES AND COENTRAO CHASING BALL ZIDANE SMILING RONALDO STARTING PASSING EXERCISE / CASEMIRO JOKING WITH CRISTIANO TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "I think they are competitive and a very good team (Sevilla). They have a lot of confidence and it will be a difficult match for us, but I hope the same for them. I think it's going to be a good match and we just want to be ready to compete strongly." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "No, not at all. I think it would be normal that someone else wins it (the best manager award). I have just started and everything is new for me. I have to keep working as I'm doing and to prove myself more and we are on it. No, it would be normal." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "I don't think that information is right (Morata going back to Juventus) but I see him happy. What I can say is I think he's happy here, it's his home and he is training well. He's very involved with the project and that's it." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "When you (James Rodriguez) don't play a final it's difficult, you can be a bit angry. I understand sometimes it's difficult but it has been difficult for all of us. This is part of the past and we just want to look ahead." ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 18th January 2017 13:51
- Keywords: Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid Sevilla Kings Cup
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XJ1267
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says that Sevilla will be difficult opponents as they prepare for the first leg of their King's Cup tie on Wednesday (January 4).
The match will be the first of three meetings between the Andalusians and 'Los Blancos' in the space of 11 days.
In December Real Madrid won the FIFA Club World Cup and go into the match hoping to extend their undefeated run to 38 games in the first fixture of the year at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"I think they are competitive and a very good team (Sevilla). They have a lot of confidence and it will be a difficult match for us, but I hope the same for them. I think it's going to be a good match and we just want to be ready to compete strongly," Zidane told reporters.
Wednesday's match is also the first anniversary of Zidane taking over as Real Madrid coach.
Along with Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri and Portugal's Fernando Santos Zidane has been nominated by FIFA as the best coach of 2016, although the Frenchman does not see himself as favourite to win the award.
"I think it would be normal that someone else wins it. I have just started and everything is new for me. I have to keep working as I'm doing and to prove myself more and we are on it," said Zidane.
Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo is rested and not in the squad to face Sevilla, while Gareth Bale and centre backs Pepe and Sergio Ramos did not train due to injuries.
Trained by Argentinean Jorge Sampaoli, Sevilla thrashed third division Formentera 14-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
They are currently third in La Liga with 33 points, one behind Barcelona and four behind league leaders Real Madrid.
Zidane took the opportunity at the press conference to deny media reports that striker Alvaro Morata would like to return to Juventus.
"I don't think that information is right but I see him happy. What I can say is I think he's happy here, it's his home and he is training well. He's very involved with the project and that's it," he said.
Zidane also dismissed speculation that James Rodriguez would leave the club in the January transfer window after the Colombian spoke about his disappointment at being an unused substitute in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
"When you don't play a final it's difficult, you can be a bit angry. I understand sometimes it's difficult but it has been difficult for all of us. This is part of the past and we just want to look ahead," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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