Zidane distracted by speculation about Real Madrid future

SHOWS:

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (OCTOBER 21, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE, SAYING:

"Well yes. It has always been like this, I've been here 18 years. The same thing used to happen to me as a player. The pressure is always going to be there, that's where we are. But for me and the players the thing to do is to prepare for the match. We are familiar with the situation but it won't change a thing. What happens tomorrow, won't change a thing. There are a lot of matches left and we are going to try until the end. But firstly we will try to win the 3 points with tomorrow's match, that's what we are here for. But as for the rest, always talking about the pressure and that they might change the coach, well we can't change that."

STORY: Zinedine Zidane has admitted that constant speculation about his future as Real Madrid coach has been bothering him in the build up to Tuesday's (October 22) Champions League Group A game against Galatasaray.

Real landed in Istanbul reeling from a shock 1-0 defeat to Real Mallorca, their first loss in La Liga this season which allowed Barcelona to take over at the top of the standings.

Just as when his side were humbled 3-0 by Paris St Germain in the Champions League last month, the latest domestic defeat has led to suggestions in the Spanish media that Zidane's job is at risk and Jose Mourinho could be in line to replace him.

Zidane, who has won three Champions League titles as Real coach, was surprisingly candid at a news conference on Monday (October 21), admitting his job could be in the balance, but that he chooses to embrace adversity and pressure to show character.

The 13-times European champions are bottom of Group A with one point and defeat against Galatasaray would leave their hopes of remaining in the competition hanging in the balance.