Real Madrid
coach Zinedine Zidane says his team deserve to be just one point from winning
the La Liga title, and they aim to finish the job in style by beating Malaga in
Sunday evening's final fixture.
Madrid travel
south three points clear of second-placed Barcelona in the table, with the
Catalans' only chance of a dramatic turnaround being a win at the Camp Nou
against Eibar along with a defeat for Zidane's side at La Rosaleda.
Asked at the
pregame news conference if he thought everyone outside his club wanted Madrid
to fail, Zidane said such things did not bother him or his players who had
earned their opportunity to win the title through their own hard work and
commitment through the year.
"I don't
know about everyone, but many people for sure do not want Madrid to win
it," Zidane said. "It has always been like that, but that does not
bother us.
"We know
where we are. We know we must win it on the pitch, as we have done until now,
working hard, battling, never letting our hands down. It is very difficult to
win La Liga over 38 games.
"Every
week, or every three days sometimes, you must show that you want to win it. And
we have done that. We deserve to be first at the moment, but we must finish it
now in the last game. It will be the most difficult for sure."
There have also been
some pundits, especially in Catalonia, questioning whether Malaga coach Michel,
an ex-Madrid player, might be happy to see his old side seeing off Barca's
challenge to claim the title.
Zidane dismissed such
talk and pointed out that Malaga had been in excellent form recently having
taken 13 points from their last five games.
"I just look at
what we have to do ourselves," Zidane said. "For sure we will have a
difficult game, they have been phenomenal. It will be more difficult than on
Wednesday. They are a very good team, who have had very good results, and have
been playing very well. The last three games have been tough, Sevilla, Vigo and
tomorrow another game."
Even though one point
will be enough for Madrid to take the title, Zidane said his team would be
aiming to ensure a victory.
"We are not going to change anything,"
Zidane said. "Our idea is to come out at 100 percent and be focused on
what we must do. We will go out to win the game, as always. That is the DNA of
this club. Then we will see what happens, but we only think about a
victory."
Injured duo Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal have
stepped up their recoveries this week and are aiming to return for the
Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff on June 3, but will not be
available for this game, although the entire squad is set to travel to
Andalusia Sunday morning.
"We are all travelling tomorrow," Zidane
said. "We are all important and must be there for the two games that are
left."
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