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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says Cristiano Ronaldo remains the player "who makes the difference" amid growing criticism of his form. Ronaldo, 31, won the 2016 Ballon d'Or and FIFA's The Best award, but his recent below-par performances have prompted questions following back-to-back defeats against Sevilla and Celta Vigo. Speaking at the news conference ahead of Saturday afternoon's La Liga game at home to Malaga, two-time Ballon d'Or winner Zidane defended the Portuguese. "The problem is when he does not score more than his general performances," former Madrid midfielder Zidane said. "What he thinks, and we think, is that we have tomorrow's game to play well and he is focused on doing just that, nothing else. I also won [personal awards] and the team then lost games. "[Ronaldo] always wins and wins and wins. He remains the player who makes the difference for this team. Maybe, in one game, you can play worse. If you have not played football you cannot understand this happens sometimes, but I have. It's not important. What is important is to keep working on the pitch." Having fielded Ronaldo as a No. 9 at Sevilla midweek, Zidane admitted that the player himself still prefers the left-wing role he had played for most of his career. "Cristiano knows how he has played all his life," he said. "He can play sometimes up front, or as one of two forwards, but he has his favorite position, on the left, and that will not change." A win on Saturday would confirm Madrid as "winter champions" at the half-way point of the season and, with a game in hand on all their rivals, Zidane cautioned against any feeling of crisis at the Bernabeu. "Nothing has broken," he said. "We have lost two games in a row, both against very good teams. Maybe it was a good moment to lose the two games, so now we can win again, and gain confidence to keep going. I am not so critical as the media. I will not go crazy now, just keep working the same. "It happened last year -- there was debate after the Atletico Madrid [defeat in February], and the three games we drew [in the autumn]. But we always give our best to move forward, and we will again." The former France international added: "I feel the pressure to win every game but I have that all the time since I signed as coach of this club. "It will always be like that, until my last day here, but that makes me improve, makes me stronger every day. I am not scared about pressure, it helps me do things better. Maybe some others [are scared], but not me." James Rodriguez remains sidelined with a calf problem, while Dani Carvajal, Pepe and Gareth Bale are also all currently unavailable. "James still has some issues with his calf, but I hope he is back training with us on Monday," Zidane said. "That is our idea, but the doctors are working well with him, and the others including Pepe and Gareth." Right-back Danilo was whistled by the Bernabeu during the Celta defeat on Wednesday, and then appeared to ignore a handshake from his coach when substituted, but Zidane dismissed any issues with the Brazilian. "Sometimes the fans whistle not just Danilo, but the rest of us too," he said. "What is written about Danilo is unfair. He is a professional who gives 100 percent whenever he plays, and every day at training. "He has played well. Of course he could do better, but so could everyone. I am with him 1,000 percent, not 100 percent. I love him as a player" Malaga currently sit 14th in the table, and have not won any of their last 16 visits to Madrid, but they did draw 0-0 at the Bernabeu during Rafa Benitez's spell as Madrid boss last season. "They are a good team, well organised, know how to play," Zidane said. "Tomorrow we know what we must do. The opponent will always make it difficult for you."
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