This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has admitted that constant speculation about his future has been bothering him ahead of their Champions League Group A game against Galatasaray on Tuesday.
The team arrived 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.
As in their previous 3-0 defeat to 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.
On Monday, Zidane told a news conference, 'I won't say that I'm not bothered by (the speculation), it does bother me, but all I can do is give everything and think positively.'
He added, 'What has happened is in the past and in football everything you have done gets forgotten quickly, it's what you do in the present that matters.'
Real Madrid, 13-time European champions, are currently bottom of Group A with one point, and a defeat against Galatasaray would leave their hopes of remaining in the competition hanging in the balance.
However, Zidane believes his team can turn things around, saying, 'We all know we have made a bad start in the Champions League but tomorrow is a new game and we're going to try and win.'
Real captain Sergio Ramos also expressed frustration with the uncertainty surrounding Zidane's position, saying, 'It would be very easy for the club to say Zidane will stay until the end of the season and then this speculation would end. We are tired of hearing about all the coaches that could come to Real Madrid.'
Real Madrid are still without injured pair Gareth Bale and Luka Modric but Toni Kroos has returned.
