Zidane pleads for calm amid Real slump

AFP, MADRID: In the space of just five games Real Madrid have gone from red hot La Liga title favourites to trailing rivals Barcelona by seven points ahead of Saturday's trip to Alaves.

When Madrid swept a crisis-ridden Barca aside 5-1 in the Spanish Super Cup last month, Zinedine Zidane's men were expected to romp to the title.

Instead, disappointing home draws against Valencia and Levante were compounded as Real failed to score for the first time in 74 games when Real Betis became the first side other than Barca or Atletico Madrid to win at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga for six-and-a-half years on Wednesday.

“We have dropped seven points in a small number of games but there is a long way to go and we can't throw everything we have done until now in the bin because of two or three average games,” insisted Zidane.

“I know that many people don't like this work when things go wrong, but we have to accept it and be calm.

“The league is very long and we will stay calm within the group because we will lift ourselves and we know we will have better days.”

Going on the road this weekend may come as a relief to Real as they have shone on their travels this season in wins at Deportivo la Coruna and Real Sociedad as well as beating Barca and Manchester United in the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups respectively. “It seems like if we don't score early at the Bernabeu we start to get anxious,” admitted midfielder Isco.

“It is something we have to improve and it is better that it happens now at the start of the season when there is more room for error.”

And while Real have endured a rough start to their title defence, Alaves are suffering a nightmare start to the season themselves as they have lost all five matches so far and already sacked coach Luis Zubeldia.

“We need to turn the page and think about the next game,” said Real captain Sergio Ramos.

“We have come back from many points behind to win the league before. We need to stay calm because they are many games and points still to play for."

There won't be a Zidane family reunion at Mendizorroza as Enzo Zidane, Zinedine's oldest son, can't feature for Alaves due to the terms of his loan move from Real.

Madrid can reduce the gap on Barca to four points before the leaders travel to Girona for a first ever Catalan derby between the two in the top flight.

Barca's impressive start to the season on the field has been overshadowed this week as the club condemned the escalating political tension in the region in the build-up to an October 1 referendum on independence organised by pro-separatist politicians.

 

Zidane pleads for calm amid Real slump

AFP, MADRID: In the space of just five games Real Madrid have gone from red hot La Liga title favourites to trailing rivals Barcelona by seven points ahead of Saturdays trip to Alaves. When Madrid swept a crisis-ridden Barca aside 5-1 in the Spanish Super Cup last month, Zinedine Zidanes men were expected to romp to the title. Instead, disappointing home draws against Valencia and Levante were compounded as Real failed to score for the first time in 74 games when Real Betis became the first side other than Barca or Atletico Madrid to win at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga for six-and-a-half years on Wednesday. We have dropped seven points in a small number of games but there is a long way to go and we cant throw everything we have done until now in the bin because of two or three average games, insisted Zidane. I know that many people dont like this work when things go wrong, but we have to accept it and be calm. The league is very long and we will stay calm within the group because we will lift ourselves and we know we will have better days. Going on the road this weekend may come as a relief to Real as they have shone on their travels this season in wins at Deportivo la Coruna and Real Sociedad as well as beating Barca and Manchester United in the Spanish and UEFA Super Cups respectively. It seems like if we dont score early at the Bernabeu we start to get anxious, admitted midfielder Isco. It is something we have to improve and it is better that it happens now at the start of the season when there is more room for error. And while Real have endured a rough start to their title defence, Alaves are suffering a nightmare start to the season themselves as they have lost all five matches so far and already sacked coach Luis Zubeldia. We need to turn the page and think about the next game, said Real captain Sergio Ramos. We have come back from many points behind to win the league before. We need to stay calm because they are many games and points still to play for. There wont be a Zidane family reunion at Mendizorroza as Enzo Zidane, Zinedines oldest son, cant feature for Alaves due to the terms of his loan move from Real. Madrid can reduce the gap on Barca to four points before the leaders travel to Girona for a first ever Catalan derby between the two in the top flight. Barcas impressive start to the season on the field has been overshadowed this week as the club condemned the escalating political tension in the region in the build-up to an October 1 referendum on independence organised by pro-separatist politicians.