This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Real Madrid are on the cusp of securing their third league title in eight years, but coach Zinedine Zidane has warned his players not to get complacent.
With a four-point cushion ahead of Barcelona and only two games left to play, Madrid will be uncatchable if they win at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium, regardless of Barca’s result at home to Osasuna.
Published on July 15, 2020, Zidane emphasized the importance of focusing on the task at hand, saying, “There is a lot of noise about celebrations and holidays and all that but tomorrow we have a game, period.”
Madrid could even afford to lose to Villarreal if they beat Leganes on Sunday, but Zidane is wary of complacency.
“We have to focus all our energy on tomorrow, nothing else. There is a lot of talk but all the players, everyone who works at the club, is only thinking about the game,” Zidane added.
While Barca’s ageing squad has struggled with the frequency of matches since the suspension, Madrid appear to have revelled in the intensity of a compressed calendar.
“It was something quite particular that when we started to work again after lockdown and after three months at home, the players had this desire to do something great,” said Zidane.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said on Sunday that Setien will remain in charge for the Champions League but doubts remain about next season.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien insisted he is not entirely to blame for the team’s struggles, saying, “I take responsibility but not all of it.”
