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Zinedine Zidane refuses to discuss summer plans amid Eden Hazard, Paul Pogba links

Zidane refuses to discuss summer plans amid Hazard, Pogba links
© Reuters
Los Blancos have little left to play for.

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane will not let speculation surrounding a summer overhaul of his squad deflect focus from delivering a strong finish to the LaLiga campaign.

After crashing out of the Champions League to Ajax and long being way behind Barcelona in the title race, there appears little left for Los Blancos to play for.

Reports continue of just what transfer dealings Zidane will make once the window opens again.

The future of Gareth Bale remains up for debate while the club have been linked with big-money moves for Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

The French coach, though, is determined to stay focused on the job in hand which continues at home against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

"I'm not going to get into anything, names or anything. We are also thinking about the future, but it will be discussed at the moment. Now we must think about the teams that we have to play with and nothing else," Zidane said at a press conference, reported by the club.

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard (PA)
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has again been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid (Ian Walton/PA)

"I know what I want and with the club I will talk about the profiles of players I want, but not now.

"There is nothing concrete. I have some ideas and desire to change things. What I have clear in my head are the profiles of players I want, but everything will depend on the market.

"There will be changes and there will also be changes in the game system."

Zidane added: "We have players who are very good and the best are here. We always look for the best.

"We must accept that this has not been our best year, but we must accept it and change it. I do not know how it's going to end."

Pressed on the situation with Wales forward Bale, the Real Madrid head coach said: "We have not talked about the future and we're not going to do it. We only think about tomorrow's game and nothing else.

"We have one month of competition and we will try to do well. My mind is here and my energy is also set in the next year. I'm not burned, not at all."

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is sidelined by a calf injury, while full-back Alvaro Odriozola will have an operation on his fractured collarbone after a collision with Vinicius Junior during training.

Zidane could yet see his team finish ahead of rivals Atletico Madrid in the battle for runners-up spot.

"We are facing a team (on Sunday) that has not lost much lately and against which it has always been very difficult to play," he said.

"But at the same time it is a good game to play and to make things better."

Bilbao remain in a battle to finish in the top seven and manager Gaizka Garitano intends to take the game to their hosts.

"We have victory in mind. They feel comfortable with the ball, that's why we must focus on stealing the ball and pressing down," he said at a press conference.


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City35292489226789
2Liverpool35277179205988
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs352311165353070
4Chelsea35207859382167
5Arsenal35206969462366
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd35197963501364
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35149124443151
8Watford35148135050050
9Everton35147145044649
10Leicester CityLeicester35146154847148
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham35127164454-1043
12Crystal Palace35126174348-542
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle35118163544-941
14Bournemouth35125184962-1341
15Burnley35117174462-1840
16Southampton35910164158-1737
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3597193254-2234
18Cardiff CityCardiff3594223065-3531
RFulham3565243376-4323
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3535272069-4914

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