Zinedine Zidane has decided to not blast his players after a back-up Blancos side struggled to a 2-2 draw with third-tier Fuenlabrada in Tuesday evening’s Copa del Rey last-32 second leg to 4-2 progress to the next round.
“I am not annoyed by the performance, just the opposite,” Zidane said. “It was expected. We played a good game, better second half than first. It is not easy for the players, many of whom had not played much recently, some were youth team players.
“The most important for us is to go through in the round. Of course we can do better. We are Real Madrid, the demands are always the same, but I am happy.”
“The fans can say whatever they want, they have paid their money,” he said. “But the fans saw their team fight until the end, and saw players on the pitch who are new, not used to playing together.
“I am very happy with the second half we played. We were playing a team whose level was not Segunda B. They are a good unit, with very good individuals, could play easily in the second level. They played very well, had many chances.”
“I am happy for Gareth, for Keylor, for Mateo who has been out a long time,” Zidane said. “Navas did well, he could not do much for the [first Fuenlabrada] goal.”
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