Real Madrid vs Alaves - Zidane ignores Pique criticism ahead of Real showdown with Alaves

Posted Saturday, April 01, 2017 by PA

Zinedine Zidane declined to hit back at Gerard Pique over the Barcelona defender's latest broadside at Real Madrid, with the Frenchman insisting his focus is firmly on Sunday's LaLiga clash with Alaves.

Pique is no stranger to courting controversy with his outspoken comments and he hit the headlines again with remarks he made about Real following Spain's midweek friendly win over France.

The 30-year-old Catalan said he did not like the "values" that Real transmit, took aim at the capital club's hierarchy and said he would never work for the Bernabeu outfit.

Zidane was asked about Pique at his pre-match press conference, but rather than go on the offensive, the Real coach preferred diplomacy - although he did say he would never join Barca either.

He said: "We've had 15 days to prepare for tomorrow's game and I'm only thinking about that.

"Real Madrid is a very big and very serious club, that's it. Now we're all focused on tomorrow's game, which is the only thing that concerns us.

"Everyone can have their opinion and the only thing that I think is that this is a big and serious club.

"It doesn't bother me what's said. What interests me is what we can do on the pitch. We know the image that we have and nobody can argue with that.

"Whatever's said is not going to change the image of this club."

When asked if he would ever coach Barcelona, Zidane said: "No. I wouldn't ever coach them. Now you've got your headlines for tomorrow."

LaLiga resumes after the international break with Madrid holding a two-point lead over Barcelona at the summit, while also still boasting a game in hand.

Things are looking good for the European champions, but Zidane knows the next four weeks could prove key to their whole campaign.

Real have nine matches in April, including league showdowns with title rivals Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as well as a Champions League quarter-final double-header with Bayern Munich.

Zidane, who will rest Sergio Ramos against Alaves, said: "Now all of the players count even more, because we have nine games in 28 days and that means we need all of them."

Having not lost a league game at the Bernabeu for over a year, Madrid will be firm favourites to beat mid-table Alaves.

However, Zidane is treating the Copa del Rey finalists - who have lost just three times in 24 league and cup matches - with the utmost respect.

He said: "They've drawn at the Vicente Calderon and won at the Nou Camp (this season). We know they are a difficult opponent."

Alaves, last season's second-division champions, beat high-flying Real Sociedad in their last game before the international break and they will be determined to create another shock at the Bernabeu.

However, their coach Mauricio Pellegrino concedes they can no longer rely on being an unknown quantity for LaLiga's big guns.

Referring to their shock win at Barcelona in September, he said: "That was in week three and we were able to cause more surprises. This is a different time and it's difficult.

"This game is a great challenge for us. Nobody has won there and I think they've only had three draws all season. They are the reigning champions of Europe, the world champions....

"We'll have to have a complete game in defence and in attack against the best players in the world."