Zidane brushes off criticism as Madrid look to continue recovery

Zinedine Zidane claims he has not even thought about the criticism aimed at him in recent weeks as Real Madrid look to build on Sunday's morale-boosting win away at Sevilla.

Madrid eased the growing pressure on their coach with a determined performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan after they had been beaten 3-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League four days before.

That loss was Madrid's worst during Zidane's two spells as coach and prompted questions about the Frenchman's future, with Jose Mourinho among those linked with taking charge.

Madrid play newly-promoted Osasuna on Wednesday and could go top of La Liga with a victory.

"It's always the same, there has always been criticism and there always will be," Zidane said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"I don't even think about it. It is what it is, it happens. When we lose, I'm going to get sacked and when we win, I'm the best. You just have to keep working.

"I feel strong but I feel the same as I did a month ago. The important thing is to give 100 per cent and to give my best. I remember playing badly for this team as well but the important thing is to give your best."
"We played a good game in Sevilla but most of all we played as a team from the first minute until the last," Zidane said. "
"I'm with him every day and we know he can do a lot offensively but he is helping us defensively too. When we work together we can achieve good things."