Zidane: “Much has been said but people want to see a good football game”

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane talked to the press ahead of Wednesday’s El Clasico against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. The Frenchman was asked many times about the controversy around the match, which was postponed because of the protests in Catalonia. Still, Zidane refused to talk about these topics.

“In the end, we have to place our energy in the field of play thinking that the match will be played no matter what. We can spend one week talking about what might happen, but the truth is we’re playing a football game tomorrow,” said Zidane.

Real Madrid and Barcelona will stay at the same hotel and will make the trip to the Camp Nou together.

“These are the rules and that’s it, we don’t need to talk about it,” said Zidane.

Barcelona wrote a letter complaining about the referee’s decision not to check the VAR during their 2-2 draw against Real Sociedad this weekend. Zidane was asked about it but the Frenchman just once again delivered a neutral response.

“We have to let the referee stay calm. He wants to do his job well, just like Barcelona and Real Madrid. This is a football game, much has been said about it but in the end people want to see a good football game,” he explained.

Real Madrid have been playing with a lot of effort lately and the French coach praised his players for that.

“Always, this is what we do. We play together, with energy and character, and we do the same training. The way we play is just a consequence of how we train. Anything can happen in a game and we have to be ready,” explained Zidane.

Zidane used Mateo Kovacic to man mark Lionel Messi in the past and was asked about whether or not he might do the same this season.

“Every game is different. Back then, Kovacic did a good job with Messi but today it is different, another game, another story and we will see what we can do,” said the coach.

Fede Valverde has become an undisputed starter for Real Madrid this season and Zidane praised the Uruguayan midfielder.

“We found Valverde within the club. He’s a great player who’s been performing very well and that’s what’s good about this club, we’ve always had the best players,” explained Zidane.

The Frenchman wrapped up the press conference by saying that the control of the possession is not the only thing that matters to him tomorrow.

“It’s not that I don’t care about it, but there are other things around a football game, we have to show our best version and that’s what we want to do,” concluded Zidane.