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Zidane tells Real Madrid to adopt World Cup mentality for La Liga finish
MADRID, June 13, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Zinedine Zidane wants Real Madrid
to treat their remaining 11 games in La Liga like a World Cup as they
aim to overhaul Barcelona to win their second league title in eight
years.
Real sit two points behind Barca and return after three months away
against Eibar on Sunday, when they will play in their new training
ground home at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.
La Liga is due to finish on July 19, meaning there will be fixtures
every day while clubs will be in action almost every three days for
five and a half weeks.
Asked if felt like the start of a World Cup, Zidane said on
Saturday: “I like the comparison, I buy into it. My players know what
it’s like to play in the final stages of a World Cup or European
Championship.
“The important thing is the preparation and I think we have
prepared very, very well. Our first match starts tomorrow and we will
give everything. I have faith what we have done with the players and
now we have to show it on the field.”
La Liga matches are being played behind closed doors because of the
coronavirus pandemic, although league president Javier Tebas has said
stadiums could be allowed to be 10 to 15 per cent full before the end
of the season.
“I don’t like playing without fans, that’s my opinion,” Zidane
said. “But as always, we have to adapt. This is the situation. There
is a government with people who do their work and we have to do ours.”
Real are playing at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium to allow
renovation work to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
The capacity is only 6,000 which would mean far fewer fans could
attend if the ban is relaxed.
“My players want to play in front of an audience and right now,
there isn’t one,” Zidane said. “But if those in charge say we can,
well then we’ll see. I have been a player and I prefer to play with
fans. But it is not an excuse, we are going to play well.”
Eden Hazard has been included in the squad to face Eibar after he
was able to use the break to recover from a foot injury and Marco
Asensio is also available again after rupturing his cruciate ligaments
last year.
But Zidane said striker Luka Jovic could miss the run-in after
injuring his foot at home and Lucas Vazquez is also out.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2046hrs