Luis Figo dismisses claims that Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is under pressure

Matt Jones - Editor 19:54 12/01/2018
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  • Zidane has been backed by former team-mate Figo.

    Luis Figo has refuted suggestions his former team-mate Zinedine Zidane is under pressure at Real Madrid and insists hard work is the only way he and the club will emerge from a testing time that sees them trail runaway leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

    The Blaugrana are nine points clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid in second place, while Zidane’s reigning champions are stuck in fourth, a gargantuan 16 points separating them and their fierce Spanish rivals.

    Los Blancos do have a game in hand on Ernesto Valverde’s rampant side, although they face a stern test when they welcome sixth-placed Villareal – just four points behind them in the table – on Saturday evening.

    And despite a testing start to Real’s title defence, Figo claims his friend will not be feeling the pressure.

    “To be a coach you are always under pressure, and more when you are in a club like Real Madrid,” said Figo, adding that although retaining their league title seems remote, Real and Zidane will have other targets, like the Champions League – where they face Paris Saint-Germain in a mouthwatering last 16 clash next month.

    “Of course the league is more difficult because of the distance in the points between them and Barcelona, it is big. But they have another goal so they have to continue to work.”

    Los Blancos legend Figo is backing Zidane.

    This season has seen Los Blancos already lose three times in 17 games – Barca are unbeaten – which has been in stark contrast to a stellar 2017 which saw Madrid sweep up a record five trophies.

    La Liga, the Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup – the latter hoisted in Abu Dhabi last month – have all been claimed by Madrid under Zidane’s management, but they have failed to recover from a woeful start to the domestic 2017/18 campaign.

    Nevertheless, Figo – who famously switched the Camp Nou for the Santiago Bernabeu in 2000 where he played alongside France maestro Zidane for four years – claims his fellow former Galactico has done an “amazing” job in the Spanish capital.

    “I think he is doing amazing, even in this last few months,” added the 45-year-old, a winner of La Liga twice each with Real and Barca.

    “The club has had some negative results but that doesn’t mean he’s doing bad. I think there are always up and downs throughout the season and I hope Real Madrid continue to fight for the goals they have this season.”

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