By Daily Sports on February 6, 2020

Real Madrid face Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey but the Frenchman had to field numerous questions about events at their Clasico rivals

Zinedine Zidane does not expect Barcelona to be weakened by the off-field unrest that has blighted Real Madrid’s La Liga title rivals this week.

A potentially damaging row has broken out at Camp Nou after Barca star Lionel Messi hit back at director of football Eric Abidal, who suggested some players were not working hard enough prior to Ernesto Valverde’s dismissal as coach.

Messi went public with his response in an Instagram post directly referencing Abidal’s comments in which he wrote: “When talking about players we should give names, because if not we are all getting dirtied and feeding things that are said but aren't true”.

Asked if Madrid could take advantage of their Clasico rivals’ plight, the Frenchman said: “It’s never like that, it’s not about that.

“They’re not going to be weak, they’re a very competitive team. We're not thinking about that for one minute.

“They will compete with us until the end of the season. Good players are always good." 

Madrid beat Sociedad 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in November and welcome them back for a one-off clash in a competition they have not won since 2014.

Zidane anticipates a tough match against a side who sit eighth in La Liga.

“It’s like a final,” he said. “It’s not like a quarter-final. It’s just one game.

“I don’t think they’re going to come here and give an inch. We have to be really focused, switched on right from the start.

“It’s a really good team, as they’ve shown all season. They play really good football. It’s a team that’s going to come here and try to do things well.”

Zidane refused to confirm if Eden Hazard would be involved following his lengthy absence with an ankle injury. (ESPN)

•PHOTO: Zinedine Zidane

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 6, 2020

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