Zidane Confident Despite Copa del Rey Exit

Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane remains calm despite the La Liga Champions humiliating Copa del Rey exit at the hands of ten-man Segunda B side Alcoyano on Wednesday.

The Frenchman's position has been questioned of late and this latest setback is sure to ramp up the pressure that he had been able to keep at bay.

"Things are said when we lose," Zidane said after the game. "I'm calm, I think the players wanted to win when they were on the pitch.

"We'll have to see what will happen in the next few days.

?️ This is what Zidane had to say following our cup match against @CD_Alcoyano. #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/npxaCBmBu2

— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) January 20, 2021

"I think [the players still believe in me]. We tried. We've done good things this season, but not recently.

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"You have to ask the players if they are getting the message, but I think they are."

Asked if he feels responsible for the situation, Zidane accepted some blame.

"I think it's my responsibility as a coach," Zidane said. "This is football.

"You have to take your chances. The ball didn't want to go in and now, well, we're out."

Refusing to label this latest defeat as more painful than any other, Zidane knows that Real Madrid are facing a turbulent time.

"The truth is that we have tried," Zidane said when asked if the result was a failure. "We had chances, but these things can happen.

"It's a tough time, we're out. We had to do more, but we didn't. But we have tried