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Super League a question for Real president Perez, says Zidane Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday refused to give his opinion on the controversial European Super League, saying that was a “question for one man” — club president Florentino Perez. The Spanish giants are one of 12 European clubs who launched the breakaway competition on Monday, with Perez the league’s first president and instrumental in the plans. “I have my opinion, but I’m not going to give it to you,” Zidane said ahead of Real’s La Liga match at Cadiz on Wednesday. “After, you are going to say ‘Zidane never gets wet, he never says anything’. Why? Because what drives me is my job, this that I do from day to day.” UEFA has condemned the plans and said teams involved will be banned from their domestic leagues and the Champions League, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino said clubs will “face the consequences”. “This is a question for one person: the president,” insisted Frenchman Zidane, who led Real to three straight Champions League titles from 2016-2018 and scored a famous goal as a player in their 2002 final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen. “Everyone has their opinion on it, but I’m not here to talk about this. I’m here to talk about La Liga, the Champions League… The rest is not my job.” Real, who will face fellow Super League club Chelsea in this season’s Champions League semi-finals, head to Cadiz sitting three points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid with seven games remaining.

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday refused to give his opinion on the controversial European Super League, saying that was a “question for one man” — club president Florentino Perez. The Spanish giants are one of 12 European clubs who launched the breakaway competition on Monday, with Perez the league’s first president and instrumental in the plans. “I have my opinion, but I’m not going to give it to you,” Zidane said ahead of Real’s La Liga match at Cadiz on Wednesday. “After, you are going to say ‘Zidane never gets wet, he never says anything’. Why? Because what drives me is my job, this that I do from day to day.” UEFA has condemned the plans and said teams involved will be banned from their domestic leagues and the Champions League, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino said clubs will “face the consequences”. “This is a question for one person: the president,” insisted Frenchman Zidane, who led Real to three straight Champions League titles from 2016...

Benzema to return for Madrid derby, says Zidane Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema will be fit to play some part in Sunday’s derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Zinedine Zidane said on Friday. Benzema has missed Real Madrid’s last three games with a groin injury but Zidane said the Frenchman will return at the Wanda Metropolitano, although would not say if he will start. “We are happy to see him again with us. He will be with us and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” said Zidane in a press conference on Friday. Benzema, who has scored 12 goals in La Liga this season, trained on Thursday and Friday ahead of the match, which could prove crucial in the Spanish title race. “We are not going to risk anything,” Zidane added. “If there is a doubt, I don’t like it, because you can do more damage and the players that are going to play must always be 100 per cent.” Real Madrid have been unable to score more than once in the last three games without Benzema, despite creating plenty of chances in a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad on Monday. “We know what Karim is, it’s not just about the goals,” said Zidane. “Karim is a focal point so he is important in our system, especially when we have the ball.” Their slip against Real Sociedad leaves Madrid five points behind Atletico, having played a game more, meaning defeat this weekend could give Zidane’s side too big a gap to close. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we will still be alive in La Liga,” Zidane insisted. Sergio Ramos is missing with a knee injury while back-up striker Mariano Diaz is also out with a problem in his pelvis. Eden Hazard is still nursing a thigh strain. “There hasn’t been a set-back, we just want Eden at 100 per cent when he is back,” said Zidane.

Madrid (AFP) – Karim Benzema will be fit to play some part in Sunday’s derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Zinedine Zidane said on Friday. Benzema has missed Real Madrid’s last three games with a groin injury but Zidane said the Frenchman will return at the Wanda Metropolitano, although would not say if he will start. “We are happy to see him again with us. He will be with us and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” said Zidane in a press conference on Friday. Benzema, who has scored 12 goals in La Liga this season, trained on Thursday and Friday ahead of the match, which could prove crucial in the Spanish title race. “We are not going to risk anything,” Zidane added. “If there is a doubt, I don’t like it, because you can do more damage and the players that are going to play must always be 100 per cent.” Real Madrid have been unable to score more than once in the last three games without Benzema, despite creating plenty of chances in a 1-1 draw...

Benzema won’t be distracted by sex tape trial, says Zidane Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane backed striker Karim Benzema to focus “on his job and his family” and not get distracted by having to face a blackmail trial over a sex tape. Benzema, 33, is accused of involvement in a plot to extort money from former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena by threatening to make a sex video public. The French star has described the trial as a “farce”. “I fully support him, I am with him, I know very well that these are not situations which are easy,” said Zidane at a news conference on Friday. “The most important thing is that he is fine, he disregards all that. He focuses on what he loves, on his job, on his family that he loves.” A date for the trial of Benzema as well as four other men has not yet been set. Benzema made 81 international appearances for France but has not been selected for his country since the sex-tape affair came to light in 2015. He has argued during the long investigation into the accusations a police officer used dishonest methods to draw him into the affair. Valbuena, who was selected 52 times for les Bleus and now plays for Greek club Olympiakos, received a call from a blackmailer who threatened to release the video, and contacted the police. Benzema has scored 261 goals for Madrid since joining the Spanish giants in 2009 and has been a key part of the team that has won the Champions League six times since then. Meanwhile, it was revealed earlier Friday that Zidane had tested negative for Covid-19 and was given the green light to oversee Madrid’s game at Osasuna on Saturday. The Frenchman had been self-isolating since Thursday after contact with a person infected with the virus. “I can be with the team today (for training) and travel with them tomorrow,” said Zidane. Madrid are second in La Liga after a run of seven wins in eight games. However, city rivals Atletico lead the way with a two-point advantage and with two games in hand.

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane backed striker Karim Benzema to focus “on his job and his family” and not get distracted by having to face a blackmail trial over a sex tape. Benzema, 33, is accused of involvement in a plot to extort money from former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena by threatening to make a sex video public. The French star has described the trial as a “farce”. “I fully support him, I am with him, I know very well that these are not situations which are easy,” said Zidane at a news conference on Friday. “The most important thing is that he is fine, he disregards all that. He focuses on what he loves, on his job, on his family that he loves.” A date for the trial of Benzema as well as four other men has not yet been set. Benzema made 81 international appearances for France but has not been selected for his country since the sex-tape affair came to light in 2015. He has argued during the long investigation into the accusations a police offic...