Zidane: “This is my passion; I am aware that tomorrow can be over, and out ”

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About to start one of the most demanding competitive stages of the season, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane wanted to avoid future distractions this morning like the next games against Manchester City (February 26) and Barcelona (March 1) and stop at the meeting that will measure them to Levante this Saturday at the Ciutad de València stadium (21.00, Movistar LaLiga). "For us, from the first day we arrived, we know that every day is important. In our head we only have this thought," said the white coach.

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The Levante, located in the quiet zone of the classification (it is 13º to eight points of the descent), has added almost all of the 29 points that it treasures in its stadium (20), which makes it one of the most complicated exits that subtract from Madrid in this final stretch of the season. "This statistic shows you the difficult game we are going to have," said Zidane, who, clinging to the complexity of this first commitment, warned that diverting attention from this first duel could be very dangerous for his team. "We have to be focused on what we do. Does anyone know what will happen tomorrow? No. All you can do is give one hundred percent, and the rest nobody knows. I do not look beyond tomorrow [for the Saturday], "he added.

The truth is that Madrid faces this sequence of games after having seen how its defensive strength has weakened in recent weeks, in which it has conceded seven goals in three games (Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Celta). "I am not worried, it just means that in the last three games we did worse. It is our duty to give one hundred percent, and try not to risk, because with the ball we know that we have many resources and possibilities to harm the opponent. We have to do things better, "said the French coach. "We know that now comes the most complicated, the most difficult. We know the importance of what we play and the points that are at stake, and I know that we can improve even more."

On how to strengthen the defensive plot, Zidane said that the best way to do this is to achieve the commitment of all players. "When you don't have the ball, everyone should defend, and they should try to get it back as soon as possible, that's the key to the defense. Everyone should be watching."

In the absence of transcending the call for the meeting against Levante, Zidane sent a message of support for all those players like Rodrygo, who has been seen outside the last lists, and defended his work methodology. "All my players are important. I live with my ideas and it will always be like that, what I do is a passion. Not everyone can say that. There are many people who work to live and do not like what they do. This is my passion. I give one hundred percent every day, and I can be wrong in what I do. I am aware that tomorrow this can be over, and outside. And especially here, "he confessed.

After Hazard's return to Celta de Vigo after 82 days off, the Belgian will be available for the three closest challenges of Madrid as his coach made clear, who said he had not designed any specific plan for the player. "He has had two or three weeks of intensive training, doing both physical and technical exercises, and is prepared to play. Now, in this final stretch, he wants to be with us and play, and is prepared to do so," he said.

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