Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 7y

Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid have four finals left to play this season

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted that the hardest part of the season is yet to come and that his team have "four finals" to play and must remain focused as they have won nothing yet.

Madrid remain on course for a first La Liga title in five years, needing seven points from Sunday's clash with Sevilla, their game in hand at Celta Vigo on Wednesday evening, and then their final fixture at Malaga next Sunday, regardless of what Barcelona do in their two remaining outings.

Zidane's side have also qualified to face Juventus in the Champions League final in Cardiff on June 3, meaning that the Bernabeu outfit are closing in on what would be their first European Cup/league double since 1958.

"We have four finals left to play to try and win La Liga and the Champions League," Zidane told a news conference. "But we have won nothing yet. We must continue with our hard work, remain focused, stick to the path that has got us here, with concentration and intensity in every game. We are very close to our objective, but the hardest part is still to come."

Saturday's Marca claimed that club president Florentino Perez had put together a two year contract extension up to 2020 which was just awaiting Zidane's signature. But Zidane said that, despite being within one game of a second Champions League trophy in just 17 months in the job, he did not feel comfortable speaking about a long term future.

"If you work hard you can improve and achieve things," he said. "That is what I try to do, it is what I like to do. So I am every day happier here, improving in every way. But that does not mean anything. I know where I am, and the only thing that counts here is to do everything possible to win."

Zidane said he agreed with Manchester United's Juan Mata, who recently told El Pais that dealing with superstar individuals, not organising tactical systems, was the most important part of top level management.

"It is not about managing big egos, but dealing with people," he said. "Mata is right as that is the nicest part of the job, to manage this group of people. That is more important than tactics and these other things."

Sevilla beat Madrid 2-1 in January's reverse fixture, but Jorge Sampaoli's side have won just three of their last 12 games in all competitions to endanger their hold on fourth spot and Champions League playoff qualification for next year.

"It is a maybe decisive game, like the others, so we will do everything possible to get the three points," Zidane said. "Sevilla have been high up in the table all season. They are a very good team, but all three games will be very difficult. We saw too what Celta have been doing, and Malaga are in an impressive moment of form. But tomorrow we just focus on the first game."

Zidane confirmed that Pepe, 34, had not yet recovered from a rib problem and will join Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal on the sidelines, meaning Nacho Fernandez is likely to play at centre-back against Sevilla, with Danilo at right-back.

Wales international Gareth Bale is also not ready to return from his calf injury as the countdown to the Champions League final in his home city of Cardiff continues.

"We must go day by day with Gareth," Zidane said. "He is better every day, but not training with us yet. I hope he is back quickly, but cannot say when."

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