MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 01:37:25| >> :120:17816:17816:
[monks data]
Attendance: 27,322
Real Sociedad logo
La Liga | Gameweek 37
May 12, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

3-1

Merino (26'), Zaldua (57'), Barrenetxea (67')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Diaz (6')

Zidane brushes off Bale, Pogba questions

Real Madrid are preparing to face Real Sociedad in their penultimate LaLiga fixture.

Zinedine Zidane has dismissed speculation concerning Gareth Bale and Paul Pogba in the build-up to Real Madrid's penultimate LaLiga game of the season at Real Sociedad.

Zidane remained tight-lipped over the latest developments involving the Welshman, whom reports suggest will reject a move this summer despite being told he is no longer part of the club's plans.

And Zidane also shrugged off persistent suggestions his club are to launch a bid to prize France star Pogba away from Manchester United.

Gareth Bale has struggled to make an impact for Real Madrid this season
Gareth Bale has struggled to make an impact for Real Madrid this season (Nick Potts/PA)

Responding to a question regarding the reported comments made by Bale's agent, Zidane told a press conference: "I don't want to answer that because I'm the Real Madrid coach and he's just doing his job.

"I need to be thinking about tomorrow's game and us performing well. We've had a good week of preparations and what I'm concerned about is that we have a good game to be involved in."

On the situation regarding Pogba, Zidane replied: "Every coach and football lover likes good players. He's a Manchester United player and I'm not going to discuss signings with you."

Zidane, who expects to have Karim Benzema available after injury, also appeared to take a swipe at rivals Barcelona after their midweek Champions League capitulation to Liverpool.

Despite insisting rival coach Ernesto Valverde has done a "tremendous job" with Barca, Zidane stressed his own club's record of four titles in the competition in the last five seasons.

Zidane said: "Nobody can take away what we did in the Champions League in the last few years.

"The Champions League, as we've seen this year, is really tough. It's a competition where anything can happen. It was a real struggle to win it and that's why we place such value on these four Champions League crowns.

"He (Valverde) has done a tremendous job so far. I'm nobody to say whether it (the criticism) is  justified or not. He knows how things work."

Zidane confirmed French striker Benzema has trained all week with the team and is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing out recent matches due to injury.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil knows the importance of Sunday's fixture as his side look to leapfrog rivals Athletic Bilbao and put themselves in the frame for European qualification next season.

Alguacil said his side are relishing the opportunity of taking on Zidane's men after a frustrating campaign in which injuries to a number of key players have taken their toll.

Alguacil told a press conference: "For me as a coach, and certainly my players too, we love these kinds of matches because we are always talking about Real Madrid.

"We have had an irregular and complicated year to do injuries, but I wish every year we had the chance to fight for seventh place with only two matches left to go."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '2614f523-8f4f-4b8f-89d0-cd56519b6144');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Zidane plays down speculation around Pogba and Bale'});

ID:358948: cacheID:358948:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8110:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A downbeat Charles Leclerc in Baku on April 27, 2019
Read Next:
Leclerc admits reputation 'encouraging'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1am
Steelers
@
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid19134243192443
2Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona197472725225
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196752123-225
11Osasuna186752327-425
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
15Leganes194781829-1119
16AlavesAlaves194592131-1017
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Valencia1927101829-1113
20Real ValladolidValladolid1933121337-2412


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!