Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane says his job is not dependent on the Spanish club winning this season’s Uefa Champions League.
Real go into tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich with a 2-1 advantage after last week’s win in Germany and are within touching distance of a potential third title in a row.
Due to Real’s poor form in La Liga - they are 15 points behind champions Barcelona - Zidane has found himself under pressure and his position has been questioned by media and supporters.
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However, in Europe’s top club competition Zidane’s side are “on the verge of history” and could become the first team to reach three Champions League finals for the second time, says the Uefa website.
Speaking before the second leg against Bayern, Zidane “dismissed speculation over his future”, says Spanish publication Marca. He said: “It is independent of winning the Champions League: I want to continue at this club. But what matters to me is what we are doing now, how we play against Bayern. The rest we cannot speculate about.
“I don’t know if I can say I’m a better or a worse coach [than when he started]. Yes, I have more experience. There are many better coaches than me, but I have had the chance to live with this Real Madrid squad and do the things we have done.”
Even with their 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Zidane admits his side have a tough test against Bayern tonight and they must focus on progressing to the 26 May final in Kiev.
“This is a semi-final,” Zidane added. “We know the importance of this game and what I have said, I will repeat. We know what we have to do but we don’t have to change anything in what we are doing. [Real need] concentration and determination in what we want to do and what we are going to do.
“We don’t have to change many things, the only thing is that we are in a semi-final and what we did in the first leg was very good.”
Bayern travel to the Bernabeu looking to overturn the 2-1 deficit and head coach Jupp Heynckes has “delivered a rallying cry” to his side ahead of tonight’s second leg, the Daily Mail reports.
Heynckes said: “We still have one goal despite losing the first leg - make it to the Champions League final. We know Madrid want to prevent that, but I think desire can move mountains in football.”
Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich (agg 2-1)
- When: tonight
- Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
- Kick-off time: 7.45pm UK
- TV channel: live on BT Sport 2
- Aggregate score after the first leg: 2-1
- Real Madrid team news: Real have a double injury worry with Isco and Nacho Fernandez “racing to be fit” for the clash against Bayern, Marca reports. Meanwhile, Wales forward Gareth Bale could start from the bench, says the Daily Mail.
- Bayern Munich team news: the BBC reports that Bayern will be without winger Arjen Robben for the second leg in Spain. However, the Germans could call upon left-back David Alaba and midfielder Javi Martinez as both players are expected to return from injury.
