Zidane expects a difficult match against Alaves

Record ID: 83679

  • Title: Zidane expects a difficult match against Alaves
  • Date: 28th October 2016
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) REAL MADRID PLAYERS DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS PASSING THE BALL STRIKER CRISTIANO RONALDO AND LEFT BACK MARCELO CHASING THE BALL FORWARD KARIM BENZEMA PASSING THE BALL FORWARD GARETH BALE DURING TRAINING SESSION REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE AT TRAINING PLAYERS RUNNING RONALDO RUNNING PLAYERS PASSING THE BALL, FORWARDS LUCAS VAZQUEZ AND ALVARO MORATA MORATA AND MIDFIELDER MARCO ASENSIO CHASING THE BALL TRAINING RONALDO TACKLING LEFT BACK FABIO COENTRAO THEN TALKING TO TEAM MATES AND COENTRAO TRAINING ZIDANE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING OF PLAYING ALAVES: "I expect a very difficult match. Complicated. As you were saying, they haven´t lost at home, but it goes beyond that, they are doing great. We are aware of the difficulty of the match. What we have to do is to think that it is going to be a difficult match" NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING OF CRISTIANO RONALDO: "What he has done in 2016 was, not only at individual level, we already know what he has done and is doing, but at team level. He likes that kind of thing. Everything he does is because of his personal work, but also thanks to the work of the whole group, the players that play with him. The other day he was speaking about that. Clearly he deserves the Ballon d´Or" NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING OF INJURED PLAYERS: "I can´t tell you anything. The three of them returned to the pitch. Perhaps the one that is exercising more is Luka, Luka Modric. Sergio started just two days ago. He needs some time. The case of Casi (Casimiro) is more or less the same. He is slowly recovering. He is good, he is very good, but we have to be patient. We will see next week" ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2016 12:34
  • Keywords: Soccer Real Madrid La Liga Soccer Zidane Alaves Ronaldo
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155X4KZJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane told a news conference on Friday (October 28) that Saturday's league match away at Deportivo Alaves will be really tough and the team must be focussed from the first minute.
    Alaves have not lost at home this season.
    "I expect a very difficult match. Complicated. As you were saying they haven´t lost at home but it goes beyond that, they are doing great. We are aware of the difficulty of the match. What we have to do is to think that it is going to be a difficult match," Zidane said.
    Asked about Cristiano Ronaldo's performance and the 2016 Ballon d'Or Zidane, himself a former winner of the trophy, said the player's year has been incredible and he deserves the award.
    "What he has done in 2016 was, not only at individual level, we already know what he has done and is doing, but at team level. He likes that kind of thing. Everything he does is because of his personal work but also thanks to the work of the whole group, the players that play with him. The other day he was speaking about that. Clearly he deserves the Ballon d´Or," he said.
    Real Madrid top La Liga with 21 points from nine matches, while Alaves, coached by Mauricio Pellegrino from Argentina, are 13th place with 10 points.
    The Basque squad lost to Real Sociedad 3-0 in their last league match.
    Zidane will have to do without right back Daniel Carvajal due to a one-game ban after reaching five yellow cards.
    Also, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Casemiro are injured and training apart from the rest of the squad.
    "The three of them returned to the pitch. Perhaps the one that is exercising more is Luka, Luka Modric. Sergio started just two days ago. He needs some time. The case of Casi (Casimiro) is more less the same. He is slowly recovering. He is good, he is very good, but we have to be patience. We will see next week," Zidane said.
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