Categories: Sports

Zidane Tasks Real Madrid to Play Inter Like Champions League Final

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted on Monday that his players cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. He therefore tasked the players to be prepared for another physical battle at home to Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The Spanish champions prop up Group B with one point from two matches, having lost 3-2 to visitors Shakhtar Donetsk before snatching a 2-2 draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach last week.

“Inter are a good team, very physical and play good football. It’s a final for us,” Zidane told a news conference on Monday.

“There is always talk from the outside about what we have to change, but these guys are competitive. They want to win, and I can say this as a coach.

“We always aspire to win everything that we’re involved in, we always want to show that we’re good and that we want more.”

Madrid have struggled as an attacking force since the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema – who helped the club to their last four Champions League triumphs – was disbanded, with only the France striker remaining.

Having recovered from persistent injuries, Eden Hazard scored his first goal for Madrid in over a year in Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Huesca in La Liga.

Zidane is confident the Belgium forward will continue to improve and form a lethal attacking partnership with Benzema and Marco Asensio in the coming years.

“The players who are here always want to make history, they always want more and to prove themselves,” he said. “These three are important and I’m sure they can define an era in Madrid.”

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

Anambra Lacks Regulatory Framework For Crowd Control, Says Information Commissioner Law Mefor

Anambra lacks formal crowd control law but is working on a regulatory framework, says state…

2 minutes ago

Akugbe Iyamu: We Must Be Prepared For Severe Droughts, Hunger in 2025

Retired Air Vice Marshal Akugbe Iyamu has called for urgent preparations for drought, heatwaves, and…

28 minutes ago

Romania Set To Form New Government With Marcel Ciolacu As Prime Minister

Romania's president Klaus Iohannis is expected to designate Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to form a…

1 hour ago

Nigeria Announces Public Holidays for Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Federal Government of Nigeria has declared public holidays to mark Christmas and New Year festivities…

1 hour ago

IGP Orders Investigation into Death of Ilorin Detainee Jimoh Abdulquadri in Police Custody

IGP Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into Jimoh Abdulquadri’s death in police custody, promising justice…

4 hours ago

Trump Dismisses Claims That Elon Musk Holds Real Power Behind US President-Elect

Donald Trump has rejected suggestions that Elon Musk is the true influence behind the newly…

4 hours ago