Real Madrid to 'disconnect' and rest ahead of City match, says Zidane
SHOWS: LEGANES, SPAIN (JULY 19, 2020) (LA LIGA / MEDIAPRO - NO RESALES)
1. REAL MADRID MANAGER ZINEDINE ZIDANE BEFORE START OF POST-MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING THEIR 2-2 DRAW AT LEGANES IN THEIR FINAL LA LIGA MATCH OF THE SEASON
2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, ON HIS FEELINGS OF NOT MAKING IT 11 WINS FROM 11 LA LIGA MATCHES, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"Well, of course, during the game you can feel that, because we weren't playing at the level we wanted to, but at the end of the day you have to think what we have achieved up until now and the same in this game. After everything we've done the result wasn't a win, but we didn't lose either. Now we have to just rest. The season has been spectacular and we have to be happy with everything that we've achieved."
3. WHITE FLASH
4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURN LEG AGAINST MANCHESTER CITY, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"I think the opposite that. The next thing we are going to think about is the Champions League and the return leg of this game (against Manchester City). In the last seconds of the first leg, whatever happened, happened, but we're going to keep going until the very end and do as well as we can I'm sure. But right now we're not going to think about the Champions League, we want to rest a little bit, because this final run has taken an awful lot of effort on the part of everybody and we need a little bit of relaxation now. We have a few days and that's what we're going to do."
5. WHITE FLASH
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, MORE ON THE MATCH AGAINST CITY, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"We are not going on holiday. We're just having a bit of a break. I'm not thinking at this very moment about City, no. Because we need to disconnect slightly and just rest. When we come back to training then we'll start thinking about the City game because we'll have about 10 to 15 days to think about it. Now, after this season we want to disconnect a little bit from football."
7. WHITE FLASH
8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH, ZINEDINE ZIDANE, ON WHY GARETH BALE AND JAMES RODRIGUEZ WERE NOT IN THE SQUAD, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):
"No, of course their situations change always and you all know what's happened. Today we just switched certain players for others. It was just a technical decision, nothing more."
9. WHITE FLASH
10. ZIDANE AND PRESS OFFICER LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
STORY: Newly-crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid were unable to maintain their perfect run of results since the season re-started as they drew 2-2 at neighbours Leganes, who were relegated on Sunday (July 19).
Sergio Ramos headed in his 11th league goal this season to put Real in front after nine minutes, as Zinedine Zidane heavily rotated his team following the 2-1 win over Villarreal on Thursday that clinched their first Liga title since 2017.
Leganes levelled on the stroke of halftime through midfielder Bryan Gil but Marco Asensio restored Real's lead early in the second half.
Roger Assale equalised in the 78th to give Leganes a slither of hope of survival and they had a late penalty appeal turned down for handball against Luka Jovic after a VAR review, while Oscar Rodriguez blasted over from inside the area in added time.
Real ended their campaign on 87 points after the draw interrupted a run of 10 consecutive victories, five clear of second-placed Barcelona.
Leganes finished 18th on 36 points, joining 19th-placed Real Mallorca and Espanyol in being relegated, while Celta Vigo, who finished on 37, stayed up after drawing 0-0 at Espanyol.
