Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has played down the idea of his team facing a defensive crisis for Wednesday's Champions League qua...
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has played down the idea of his team facing a defensive crisis for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal return at home to Juventus, suggesting that youngster Jesus Vallejo will be fit to make his competition debut at centre-back.
Zidane is without suspended club captain Sergio Ramos and injured back-up Nacho Fernandez, meaning that inexperienced Vallejo is his only specialist cover as the holders defend their 3-0 first-leg advantage.
The Spain under-21 international missed the weekend's 1-1 La Liga draw with Atletico Madrid due to an unspecified muscle issue, leading to fears that midfielder Casemiro could be required to drop into the back four for a game in which Madrid expect to seal passage to the last four.
Zidane told the pregame news conference that Vallejo had come through Tuesday's training session OK, but if required he had the squad to "adapt to the situation."
"Jesus trained well, until the end, did not feel anything," Zidane said. "So we will see tomorrow who will play. But we are without problems, and if we have a problem we will adapt with the situation. But at the moment we are all ready."
Elsewhere under-fire centre-forward Karim Benzema is expected to return to the starting XI, with Gareth Bale returning to the bench for a fourth successive big Champions League game, despite providing the assist for Cristiano Ronaldo's goal last weekend against Atletico.
Zidane admitted his fellow Frenchman was "suffering" due to media criticism recently, and would prefer to have scored more than just nine times in his 34 games across all competitions so far this term.
"Karim is the same as always," he said. "The only thing is that maybe he is suffering with what has been said. But he is training well, committed, and focused. Although he would like to be scoring more goals, and be playing better."
After their 3-0 first-leg win at last year's finalists Juve, many around the Bernabeu are already talking of the team winning the Champions League for a third successive season, but Zidane said he preferred not to look too far ahead as strange things can happen in football.
"It is better for us not to talk about [being favourites]," he said. "I am just interested in showing it on the pitch, not talking. As for example, with the performance we put in against Atletico, we could even have lost the game. I cannot explain it, but that is football. You must respect all teams, as anything can happen. But if we are committed from minute one to minute 90 we have a big chance to go through [against anyone]."
He was unable to explain why Madrid have won three Champions League trophies and only one La Liga titles in the last four seasons.
"At the start of season we always want to win everything," Zidane said. "But sometimes there can be problems, like this year when we had difficulties scoring goals. Personally, I am more excited and motivated by winning La Liga, and I believe the players the same. But this club's history in the Champions League is impressive, nobody comes close. I cannot explain it."
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