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Zinedine Zidane reacted angrily to questions about his future at Real Madrid, asking for “respect” and saying that journalists should “tell me to my face that you want me to leave”, adding that there will likely be changes at the end of the season.
The French coach was giving his first press conference, before the Madrid League game in Huesca on Saturday, since he recovered from COVID-19, which saw him miss his last two games.
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A 2-1 loss to Levante last weekend saw Madrid fall 10 points behind leader Atlético de Madrid, who also have a game on their hands, in the title race, while also being eliminated from the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey last month. .
“Are you serious? Every day I’m out, and you know it,” Zidane said visibly angry when asked if he was defending his position and his team. “Last year we won the league.
“We did. Real Madrid … Next year they will have to do things, maybe make changes. But this year we have the right to fight. Let’s fight.
“We won the league last year, not 10 years ago. Show a little respect for that. [journalists] say many things. But you have to take responsibility. Tell me to my face: I want you to go. We want you to go. But you have to say it, not behind my back. “
Zidane, who won three consecutive Champions League titles in his first spell as coach from 2016 to 2018, seemed willing to admit that he could lose his job this summer if the team fails to beat Atlético in La Liga or fails to deliver in Europe. .
Madrid play Atalanta in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with the first leg on February 24.
“I am responsible for this squad. If things don’t work out, you have to see who is responsible,” he said. “Next year, for sure something will have to be done. But this year this team deserves to move on.
Zidane also said that his time of self-isolation recovering from the coronavirus had not helped his mood.
“One day I’m out, the next day I’m in, the next day we draw or lose and I’m out,” he added. “Every time we play a bad game, they ask me about it. I don’t deserve that treatment.
“I am a bit angry, I have been locked in a cage for two weeks and I am eager to go out and show that I will fight to the end.
Zidane was also asked about Eden Hazard, attributing the latest muscle injury that could cause the forward to miss next month as “bad luck”, admitting that he had been reluctant to have Martin Odegaard join Arsenal on loan.
“He wanted to go, he wanted to play. We talked two or three times,” he said. “If a player wants to play and has an opportunity elsewhere, when it is the player’s request … he can stay, fight, be calm, it is a long season, he is an interesting player but in the end that did not happen. everybody “.
