Real Madrid: We will work until the last minute of the season - Zidane

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has had a great impact since replacing Rafael Benitez in January, but with both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid ahead of them in the title race, the Frenchman has called for calm.

"We have not won anything, but we are in a good situation," he said.

"There is so much talk that we will win everything, but you can say whatever you want.

Zidane who is unsure whether Gareth Bale will be fit to face Manchester City in the Champions League next week after the Real Madrid boss confirmed the forward will miss Wednesday's clash against Villarreal with a muscle injury.

"We know we have not won anything and the players think the same as me; they are focused on what we have to do.
"We will work until the last minute of the season."
Barcelona's third consecutive defeat in the league has injected life into a title race that three weeks ago seemed as animate as a training ground cone. 

A more-than-healthy lead has been decimated and now Atletico are level at the top of the table with the previously runaway leaders, while Real Madrid have diligently gone about their domestic business to move to within a point of the top two. All of a sudden, boring, boring La Liga could provide the most exciting run-in across the European leagues.

For that, Zinedine Zidane deserves credit. After a bumpy start to his managerial tenure at the Bernabeu, the Frenchman has now overseen seven straight victories to haul the side back into contention.

 In his first 15 games in charge Rafa Benitez lost three and drew three. Zidane has lost one and drawn two over the same number of games. Benitez's Real lost to Sevilla and Barcelona, conceding seven and scoring twice. Zidane's Real have beaten the same two sides, scoring six and conceding once.

 More importantly, the 2-1Clasico victory at Camp Nou sowed the first seeds of doubts as to the invincibility of Luis Enrique's side, bringing a 39-match unbeaten streak in all competitions to an end.

Barcelona's recent run is unprecedented in the club's modern incarnation. The last time Barca lost three Liga matches on the bounce was in 2002-03 with Louis van Gaal in charge. 

The Iron Tulip lasted just a few more games. The team captain then was one Luis Enrique, and Andres Iniesta, wearing the No. 34 shirt, made six first team appearances that season, under Van Gaal's successor Radomir Antic.

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