Zidane insists El Clasico won't decide La Liga title, as Setien heaps pressure

LA LIGA

REAL MADRID

BARCELONA

Zinedine Zidane insisted that El Clasico on Monday morning (March 2, Singapore time) will not decide the title race even if Real Madrid lose to Barcelona and fall five points behind them in La Liga.

Yet opposite number Quique Setien believes Barca’s two-point cushion at the top makes the match at the Santiago Bernabeu “much more important for Real” than his team.

Victory for the Catalan side would effectively give them a six-point advantage over Real, given what would be a superior head-to-head, with 12 games left to play.

But Zidane insists there would still be a way back.

“I don’t think anyone will lose anything this weekend,” he said in a press conference on Saturday. “There are still 12 games left, we’ll still be in the title race regardless of the result. But we’re going to try to win, 100 per cent.”

Setien, also speaking on Saturday, said the pressure was all on Real.

“For Madrid, this match is certainly much more important than for us. In relation to their situation in the table, it is a key match, I don’t know if it’s decisive, but it’s very important.”

After Real, Barcelona will have only one away game left against the top six, when they face Sevilla in April, yet Setien thinks there will be more twists to come.

“A victory would give us an advantage but I don’t know if it would be enough,” said Setien. “I think probably not because we’ve already seen a lot of surprises.”

Tension 

Both teams have endured a bumpy few weeks, but Barcelona arrive in a better mood after Real’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday made it one win from five games for Zidane’s side.

Asked if his job would be under threat if they fail to win the title this term, Zidane said: “I don’t know, that’s a question for someone else. I know what I have to do.

“We’re going to try to win something, that's what we’re working for, but you can only have one winner.

“You lose two games, you get criticised. I get it, I am responsible. It’s what is happening, it’s nothing new. But I have the strength to continue, I have faith in my players and I believe we can turn this around.”

Barcelona have already sacked their coach this season, with Setien replacing Ernesto Valverde in January, while a number of off-field controversies have created tension between key players and the board.

Former Real Madrid forward Jorge Valdano said this week the Clasico would be a battle of “two lame ducks”, but Zidane said the criticism has been harsh.

“When teams start dropping points, people sometimes over analyse,” Zidane said. “Real Madrid and Barcelona are first and second in the league, so what does it say about the others?

“I don’t think people can say we are a disaster if we are first and second in the table. There are always periods where you are good and periods where you are less good.”

Setien was at the Santiago Bernabeu to watch City’s win over Real in the Champions League and spoke to Pep Guardiola after the match.

PEP TALK

“I didn’t go to see Guardiola, I went to see the game and to watch an opponent very similar in terms of style to ours,” Setien said.

“We talked about different things. There are some things City did that could be good for us and other things that are not for us and we aren’t interested in.”

Jordi Alba was given the green light on Saturday to play after recovering from a thigh injury, while Setien confirmed Gerard Pique is fit, despite turning his ankle in the 1-1 draw with Napoli on Tuesday.

“It’s not damaged and he will not have any problem,” Setien said about Pique. On Alba, he added: “We’re feeling positive, it’s just whether we start him or not. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” – AFP