Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid will play to win against Barcelona in Clasico

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says his team will not play for a draw in Saturday's La Liga Clasico at Barcelona, even though that would maintain their current six point advantage in the table.

Madrid go to the Camp Nou well clear at the top of the Primera Division, and unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, leading to talk that around the Bernabeu that taking a point and remaining in control of the title race would be a favourable outcome.

However the Blancos coach told his pregame news conference that his players must take to the pitch feeling under pressure to give their very best performance, and only afterwards would they judge what was a good result.

"It will be a very difficult game," Zidane said. "We must go there with our, I shouldn't say this but I will, with our 'buttocks clenched.' We're a very good team when we think like that. They are behind us, so you might think they need the points more. But no, no.

"We are ahead, but that means nothing. I do not think about draw, win or loss. We never do calculations like that, we must just play our best game, as we always try to do. The result is the consequence of what you do -- and if you play well we can get something good. We must give our all, so that afterwards we cannot have any regrets."

Barca are sure not to play as badly as in their 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad last weekend, Zidane predicted -- as champions always showed up on the big occasion.

"I do not focus on the game they played in San Sebastian," he said. "It will not be the same, for sure it won't. We will play an opponent who are champions -- and champions are always good in the big games. We must be ready too, we have many champions too, it will be a nice game.

"There is no favourite for this Clasico. It is 50/50 like always. I do not like people around saying [we are favourites]. We study the opponent, as always. They do not have weak points, a very strong team. Tomorrow two great teams meet. We will see what happens."

Zidane said he would not be giving any special instructions to 2016 Ballon d'Or favourite Cristiano Ronaldo pregame, while the Portugal captain would lead by example on the pitch.

"Ronaldo is a great professional who knows how to prepare the game," he said. "I do not have to say anything special to him, although we talk often. He is very important for all the team, as he has tremendous energy. I am happy as I see him very content and very motivated. He has won everything so far this year, but is still hungry for more."

The Frenchman also had kind words for Barca stars Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, who is expected to return from injury to start the game.

"We know the player Messi is, one of the very best in the world," Zidane said. "We will watch him, but all of them, as they are all good players. We know Iniesta is a great player, important for the team, although him being fit or not does not change our plans for the game."

Zidane confirmed that holding midfielder Casemiro was ready to play, having come through 90 minutes of Copa del Rey action midweek following two months out injured.

"Casemiro is with us, I am happy to have him with us, we know what he can do, how important he is," he said.

Zidane has had an amazing start in his first senior coaching job, winning the Champions League after just a few months in charge, and with his team currently 32 games unbeaten in all competitions. However he reacted modestly to being named along with Leicester City's Claudio Ranieri and Portugal's Fernando Santos on the FIFA coach of the year award shortlist.

"It is very soon to be among the top three," Zidane said. "I cannot change that, I am very grateful, but there are many coaches who maybe should be on the list ahead of me. I know this is a long process, I am learning every day, enjoying it and I will continue to improve for as long as I am Madrid coach."

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