Zidane: “I'm very proud of the team; we battled on until the end”

NEWS | 14/05/2016 | Alberto Navarro (La Coruña)

“We did what we had to and we're now thinking about our last remaining game: the Champions League final”, he explained.

Zinedine Zidane spoke to the press in the wake of Real Madrid's win over Deportivo at Riazor and he had the following to say: "Never once did we throw the towel in and we battled on right until the end. I'm very proud of the team, of what we've already accomplished and we're currently achieving. The only thing for me to say to them is that they must now rest up".

"I'm very proud of the players and everyone who is involved with this team. We're all disappointed, but with 38 matchdays played, we can't change anything now. Barcelona deserved to win La Liga, but you've got to take your hat off to what we've done".

A two-week break prior to the final
"It's not to our advantage, nor is detrimental. We're lucky enough to be playing in the final and we've now got to rest up well and prepare for it over the coming days. Given all of the effort we've put in, we're disappointed, but we did what we had to and we're now thinking about our last remaining game".

We've now got to rest up well and prepare for the final over the coming days.

"Now it’s important to rest up, spend a few days with the family and forget about football. We’ll come back raring to go in preparation for the final".

Substituting Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale’s position
“Bringing Cristiano Ronaldo off was just because he had taken a heavy blow to his foot. As for Bale, he started playing on the right and Cristiano Ronaldo was on the left. That’s the idea and it’s where he feels most comfortable, but they’re free to move around the pitch and change positions”.

Plans for the next two weeks
“Tomorrow they’re going to rest because they need it. We’ve got time to get ready for the final and we’re going to work on it because we have to prepare well and we’ve got time to do so”.