Zidane: “No, I don’t think this is a disgraceful result”

Real Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey and they crashed out against a team in the third tier, Alcoyano. Zinedine Zidane was asked in the press conference if this was his toughest defeat as coach of Real Madrid and if it was a disgraceful result. He replied: “All defeats hurt. I don’t like to lose and the players neither. We were playing a Segunda B side and we should have won, but it’s not a disgrace. This can happen. These are things that happen in a player’s career. It’s a tough day, but we’re not going to go crazy. We’ll think about this and work hard.”

Asked for his thoughts on his standing as coach of Real Madrid, Zidane said he accepts the blame. He said: “I’m the coach and the responsibility is mine. I’ll accept it. What has to happen will happen.”

It was put to Zidane that the players might not have given 100%, but he dismissed that notion, saying: “We tried and I think the players gave their everything on the pitch. We had chances and when you don’t score them then what happened can happen. In football, you have to score when you have the chances. Their goalkeeper made a few saves and the second goal didn’t want to go in. It’s a difficult moment. We’re out of the Copa. But, the players did try.”

Finally, he was asked if he thinks the players still believe in him. To that, the Frenchman said: “Yes, I think so. You’d have to ask them. We have done good things, although maybe less so recently. Now, we have to think about LaLiga and the Champions League.”