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Zinedine Zidane has supported his Real Madrid to fulfill The classic on Saturday and said he is “with the players to the death” amid mounting speculation about his future at the club.
Zidane, who won the Champions League in three consecutive seasons with Madrid between 2016 and 2018 and won La Liga last season, insisted that he feels supported by the club and president Florentino Pérez before the decisive match against Barcelona.
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Madrid were beaten 1-0 by newly promoted Cádiz in La Liga last weekend before a surprising 3-2 loss to a weakened Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“Yes [I feel supported], by all, “Zidane said at a prematch press conference on Friday.” I have won many things with these players, they have made me win a lot. I will be with the players until death.
“I feel everyone’s support, but now we have to change things. We have had two difficult games.
“I think it’s a good game to show ourselves, to show that we want to change the situation.”
The back-to-back losses have sparked speculation that his position may be threatened, despite a managerial record of winning silver titles regularly.
“It’s what people say, I can’t deny it,” he said when asked if the team played for its future. “But what changes? Nothing. Last year it was the same, in my first stage it was the same. What I have to do is my job, give 100%, give everything I have.”
Zidane also confirmed that captain Sergio Ramos would be fit to play against Barça after injuring his knee against Cádiz and watching the disastrous defensive performance against Shakhtar from the stands.
“Sergio is our captain and our leader,” he said. “We will not take any risk. Sergio has recovered and will be with us. It is about being 100% and I think Sergio now.”
Barcelona enter the game as favorites after recovering from a league loss to Getafe with a resounding 5-1 defeat of Ferencvaros in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Antoine Griezmann stayed on the bench for that match, but coach Ronald Koeman said the forward is a candidate to play against Madrid.
“He has options to play tomorrow,” Koeman said. “He is an important player and we want everyone to give their best. The team is the most important thing.”
Jordi Alba has also been included in the call for the day of Barcelona after almost three weeks off due to injury.
The Spanish international is in contention to start the match, having completed only one full training session with his teammates.
