- Title: Real Madrid prepare for their La Liga match at home to Granada
- Date: 6th January 2017
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JANUARY 6, 2017) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID PLAYERS DIVIDED IN TWO GROUPS PASSING THE BALL STRIKER CRISTIANO RONALDO AND RIGHT BACK DANILO CHASING BALL / PLAYERS PASSING BALL WITH HEAD RONALDO DURING SESSION PLAYERS PASSING BALL LEFT BACK FABIO COENTRAO AND GOALKEEPER KEYLOR NAVAS CHASING THE BALL REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE ATTENDING TRAINING SESSION TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS FORWARD KARIM BENZEMA CHASING THE BALL PLAYMAKER JAMES RODRIGUEZ AND CRISTIANO PASSING THE BALL / COENTRAO AND LEFT BACK MARCELO CHASING THE BALL / MIDFIELDER LUKA MODRIC AND BENZEMA JUGGLING ZIDANE RUNNING WITH BALL MODRIC AND MIDFIELDER LUCAS SILVA CHASING THE BALL SESSION IN PROGRESS JAMES AND COENTRAO CHASING THE BALL / CRISTIANO PASSING WITH HEAD / JAMES AND SESSION IN PROGRESS REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "Cristiano is a smart player and we have talked about that (Ronaldo's rest). I want Cristiano to be well during the whole season. We have 20 matches in 70 days, I care about Cristiano and every once in a while he needs to rest. That's what I think and he thinks the same so there's no problem." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "It’s another match for us, we play again in La Liga and we have to keep doing things right. We will have a rival that will be complicated and we just have to be ready to play another good match because it’s hard to recover if you play every three days." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "I know you are worried about James and you always ask for him. James is important but for me the most important thing is the group, the team and the energy we have. Every player that comes out gives the best, they are really good players and we have to maintain this." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING: "(Real) Madrid is the best for me, there's no more so for me to remain in this club after being a player, after being assistant of Carlo Ancelotti, now being on the first team... I enjoy every day. I'm happy of all these things but I have to keep working and enjoying because someday it will end." ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 21st January 2017 13:35
- Keywords: Real Madrid La Liga Granada Zinedine Zidane
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015XY0D33
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Friday (January 6) Cristiano Ronaldo is aware he needs to rest every once in a while after the Portuguese forward was rested against Sevilla.
"Cristiano is a smart player and we have talked about that (Ronaldo's rest). I want Cristiano to be well during the whole season. We have twenty matches in seventy days, I care about Cristiano and every once in a while he needs to rest. That's what I think and he thinks the same so there's no problem," Zidane said at the news conference previewing Los Blancos next league match.
Leaders Real Madrid continue with their pursuit of La Liga against Granada on Saturday (January 7) with their confidence sky high and seeking to match Barcelona's Spanish record of 39 games unbeaten in all competitions.
"It's another match for us, we play again in La Liga and we have to keep doing things right. We will have a rival that will be complicated and we just have to be ready to play another good match because it's hard to recover if you play every three days," Zidane said.
Zinedine Zidane's side crushed title aspirants Sevilla 3-0 in a King's Cup last 16 first leg on Wednesday (January 4) despite resting forwards Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo and having five other key players missing due to injury.
Real's top scorer Ronaldo is set to return along with Benzema to face Granada, who are currently struggling at the bottom end of the league with just one win all season.
Defenders Pepe and Sergio Ramos plus midfielders Lucas Vazquez and Mateo Kovacic will still be missing on Saturday along with long-term injury victim Gareth Bale.
When asked about Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez, Zidane said the most important thing is the team.
"I know you are worried about James and you always ask for him. James is important but for me the most important thing is the group, the team and the energy we have. Every player that comes out gives the best, they are really good players and we have to maintain this," Zidane said.
Real Madrid will match the Spanish record tally of 39 games set by Barcelona if they avoid defeat to Granada. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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