Real Madrid Did A Rocky Balboa Style Workout On New Year's Eve

Real Madrid return to action La Liga action against Celta Vigo and they'll be looking to get back to winning ways in the league.

Los Blancos were humbled 3-0 by rivals Barcelona in El Clasico just before the winter break in a result that could well already have put the La Liga title race to bed.

After the disappointing home defeat on 23 December, Real took a break from competitive action. But not content with his side's fitness levels and overall sharpness, Zinedine Zidane decided to beast his players on New Years' Eve.

According to MARCA, after a standard session which involved work with the ball, Zidane ordered his players to take their boots off, put trainers on and star running up and down the steps of the Bernabeu as if they were Rocky Balboa.

Zidane used some unusual training techniques:

He told his players to take off their boots, put on trainers & begin running up and down the stairs of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
[Marca]

— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) January 7, 2018

MARCA:

▪️ On New Year's Eve, Zidane & Pintus made the players run up and down the stairs of the Bernabeu, in an exercise that looked similar to Rocky Balboa's work out

▪️ The run went some 40 metres away from the playing surface and players weren't permitted to skip stairs. pic.twitter.com/zChqKmhlK6

— RMadrid Edition (@RMadridEdition) January 7, 2018

MARCA:

▪️ On New Year's Eve, Zidane & Pintus made the players run up and down the stairs of the Bernabeu, in an exercise that looked similar to Rocky Balboa's work out

▪️ The run went some 40 metres away from the playing surface and players weren't permitted to skip stairs. pic.twitter.com/zChqKmhlK6

— RMadrid Edition (@RMadridEdition) January 7, 2018

Of course, they couldn't run up and down every step in a 81,000 capacity stadium, but it was still a gruelling training exercise. Starting from the front row, they ran up to the back of the first tier and were not able to skip a single step - with fitness coach Antonio Pintus watching on.

Los Blancos were around 40 metres from the Bernabeu pitch and weren't allowed any rest between the exercise, which makes it sound as though Zidane has gone all Mike Bassett.

Real returned to winning ways when they beat lowly Numancia 3-0 in the Copa Del Rey on Thursday but we'll find out if their step-running has well and truly paid off against Celta.