Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says his policy regarding James Rodriguez is not going to change but confirmed the Colombia international has returned to the squad for Sunday’s La Liga clash with Leganes.
James missed Madrid’s 3-3 Champions League draw at Legia Warsaw on Wednesday due to a minor fitness issue, and then told reporters that he would like to get more playing time, while adding he respected that Zidane picked the team.
Asked about the situation of a player who last summer was linked with possible moves to Manchester United and Inter Milan, Zidane said at a news conference that he tried to be fair to all his players and make them understand the role they had to play.
“Each player has a different situation,” Zidane said. “I try and show everyone in the squad that they are important. At the moment James is playing less. But the idea is the same — that he can help us.
“I know he wants to play more, they all do, but I try to help the team in each game, and that is not going to change. I want James here with me, for him to play for us, and nothing more.”
Luka Modric also returns to the squad for Sunday’s game against Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu after a month out following a knee operation, but Zidane said he would be cautious with the Croatia midfielder with the international break looming.
“We will see how it goes,” he said. “He is training with us, he is in the squad, and the idea is for him to get some minutes on the pitch. We will see tomorrow. The important thing is for him to recover well.”
Karim Benzema misses out, however, with a minor hamstring complaint, Zidane said.
“[Benzema] is out for tomorrow,” he said. “He has a problem. After the game in Legia he noticed something in his hamstring, and we do not know exactly what it is. We will see. We are not going to take any risk with a player who has a problem.”
Leganes, based in the Madrid suburbs, are likely to be keen to impress on their first ever La Liga visit to the Bernabeu.
“We know that it will be a difficult game,” Zidane said. “They have done well away from home. We need to have maximum concentration. We must play a serious game and be focused. We have prepared well.”
Madrid and their coach were again criticised after Wednesday’s game in Poland, with some pundits claiming Zidane picked his XI for “political reasons.”
“There will always be criticism,” Zidane said. “I am just interested in moving on. Football is like this, strange things can happen in games. I’ve been in this sport for 30 years. I do not pick a team just to please any player. I know what it’s like, I’ve been a player.
“If I had to do it again, I’d pick the same team. I am the first one responsible for all this, and I’m not looking for excuses. We just have to work hard on the pitch, keep clean sheets, and score goals. My feeling is we are not playing as badly as it might seem.”
Zidane’s achievement in winning last season’s Champions League just five months after taking over as Madrid coach has seen him shortlisted for the Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2016 award.
“I am not thinking about that at the moment, although I am proud to be among FIFA’s best 10 coaches,” the Frenchman said. “That means we are doing good work. I must keep showing what I can do. When we have a bad game, the criticism comes. But neither criticism nor praise will make us change course. This is a tough job, but I like it a lot.”
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