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    Zidane also / 34567) shouldered burdens from last . Even +  1 8) *! 6 if it was not his team that limped its way through the final months, he was in charge and some wondered why 15 : ;  nothing had changed. Suspicions grew when Madrid drew two of their first four league   (& games and were thrashed away at Saint-Germain. inedine Zidane has said he is When they lost away at newly- Znot worried about today’s   (& promoted Mallorca, a week before the Clasico between Real Madrid and Clasico was meant to be played, it felt Barcelona being overshadowed inedine Zidane and Ernesto like results might unravel. by Catalan independence protests. Valverde might have been fear- “We must have consistency,” said The fixture was originally Zing for their jobs if they had lost Zidane. “We have to have more life scheduled for October 26 but had a Clasico back in October but its post- in our game.” to be postponed and there are ponement means that today they can Madrid did that as Zidane found renewed fears of unrest at Camp face each other feeling more secure. a more settled side including the Nou, where Madrid and Barca will Stalling in the autumn, Real dynamic he has long- be playing for first place in . Madrid and Barcelona have rolled wanted in Fede Valverde as well as an “I am not worried about any- through the gears in the lead-up to 18-year-old gem in and thing,” said Zidane in a press con- Christmas, meaning the winner of arguably the world’s most in-form ference on Tuesday. today’s crunch meeting at Camp Nou striker in Karim Benzema. “I am happy we are about to will move seven points clear of third got fit too and play a Clasico. It was the same place. sparkled in spells before injuring his when I was a player, these are the More importantly, in what ankle earlier this month, which will matches you live for, and you are a week talking about it.” increasingly looks like a two-pronged rule him out until the new year. focused only on what hap- Barcelona and Real Madrid sit title chase, the winner will pull three As Madrid hit their stride, pens on the field.” first and second in La Liga and ahead of the loser, with one round Barcelona accelerated to keep Democratic level on points, with Barca only Liga matches left before the two-week up and the uncertainty Tsunami, the protest ahead on goal difference. winter break. around Valverde, although group in favour of Both teams have found form Yet even for the loser, providing not gone, has, for now at Catalan independence, in recent weeks, in part due to the defeat is not a humiliation, the con- least, faded. has called publicly for its excellent form of their strikers. sequences will not be so grave. Their improvement supporters to gather at Madrid’s Karim Benzema has The gap in the table will be small cannot be entirely credited the stadium four hours nine goals in his last eight games and considering where both these to the return of Lionel before kick off at 19:00 while has scored 14 teams were only a few weeks ago, Messi, but his eight goals, GMT. in 12. when every week brought a new including two hat-tricks, A large-scale safety “We know we are facing a very name linked with coaching jobs and and four assists in six games have cer- operation will be deployed around good team, we know the player every goal conceded planted anoth- tainly helped. Griezmann is finding the match involving 3,000 securi- they have in Messi, but we also er seed of doubt. his feet too, with three goals in his last ty personnel while both teams have our weapons,” Zidane said. For Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho five. Judgement on Zidane’s second have been instructed to travel to Eden Hazard, Marcelo, James was out of work and in the public eye, coming will be guided by Madrid’s the stadium from the same hotel. Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez and his increasingly frequent media show- staying power in the league while for “It’s something different but will all miss the ings even appearing to irk the usual- Valverde, success will hinge on the rules are the rules,” said match through injury. Gareth ly immoveable Zidane. Europe, where recapturing the trophy Zidane. “They said we have to Bale is fit again but has not start- For Barcelona, Ronald Koeman after four barren seasons seems now leave together so we’re leaving ed since Madrid’s win over Alaves had surged into view after the Dutch to be the minimum for Barcelona. together.” on November 30. Federation confirmed a clause in his concern. and the weaknesses all-too familiar, rying the weight of previous disap- Storms may lie ahead but as La Zidane added: “We never “Bale is with us, he is training contract that allows him to join Barcelona’s malaise was short- the kind that had also gone unfixed pointments and he was blamed for a Liga approaches its halfway point, thought this game would not go well,” Zidane said. “He is an Barca after Euro 2020 next summer. lived. They won only two of their before, only to prove costly later in the leaky defence, lack of style and fail- Zidane and Valverde are still intact. ahead. What we have to do is put important player and tomorrow, But if the rumours were an irri- opening five games. Results improved season. ure to get the best out of Antoine This Clasico is a battle of leaders, but all our energy into the match he will be prepared like everyone tation, form on the pitch was a real but performances were ponderous In that sense, Valverde was car- Griezmann. survivors too. because the rest, we could spend else.” # P  &'6    #  - B 5   '

  % (  absence. “We can talk about anchester United Paul all day long and it’s Mmanager Ole Gunnar games like this for example Solskjaer has a fresh Paul when you’re lacking that Pogba headache, revealing one creative pass or ideas illness has delayed the mid- maybe,” said Solskjaer fielder’s return from injury “He has that quality ahead of today’s League that not many Cup quarterfinal against in the world have so to get giant-killers Colchester. him back would be great.” The France World Cup While Pogba will be winner has been sidelined sidelined, Diogo Dalot for most of the season with could make his first appear- an ankle injury, play- ance in 10 weeks. ing just six times for Solskjaer said United after a sum- winning the League thanks to their Champions League mer of speculation Cup or reaching the   & triumph last season. following his state- final would be a boost If Liverpool win against the ment that it could be for his players. urgen Klopp insists Liverpool Mexicans, they will advance to a time for a “new chal- “We showed that Jare fully focused on winnning final on Saturday against either lenge”. by the team we put out this week’s Club World Cup ahead Flamengo of or Saudi side But after the United against Chelsea (in the of their semi-final against Al Hilal, while even if they lose manager spoke, videos previous round), that we Monterrey of Mexico but hit out at their semi-final they will remain in appeared on social media take this seriously,” he said. the timing of the competition and Qatar for a third-place play-off at of Pogba dancing and “Even though we were in a questioned FIFA’s plans to the weekend. showing few ill effects at his difficult spell in the league expand the tournament in After the competition con- brother Florentin’s wed- it was still important for us future. cludes, they will rush back home ding. to create that momentum “We are here now and we are to prepare for a trip to Leicester Pogba, 26, had been and belief in the players.” completely focused on it, but if City — their closest title chal- due to resume first-team Solskjaer plans to make you had asked me before- lengers — next Thursday. training this week but changes against Colchester, hand if I think that there FIFA recently con- Solskjaer said: “Of all things who beat Tottenham on should be a Club World firmed plans to expand the he’s struck down ill now.” penalties earlier in the Cup in the middle of our season, current seven-team Club World “He’s been off for two competition, but pledged I would say no, in my honest opin- Cup played in December to a 24- or three days, three days the side would be strong ion,” Klopp told journalists at the team competition which will start probably, so that’s not ben- enough to win the game. Khalifa International Stadium, in China in 2021 and will be eficial. That’s probably set He said teenager where Liverpool face Monterrey played in June and July — that him back quite a bit,” the Mason Greenwood was today. means a clash with the next Africa Norwegian boss said, look- “making it hard for me to The Anfield club have had to Cup of Nations, to be held at the ing ahead to the meeting leave him out” take time out from their seeming- same time. with fourth-tier Colchester. after three ly relentless march towards the The existing format is partic- “As I’ve said so many goals in his Premier League title to travel to ularly unloved in Europe, even if times, Paul’s a top, top past two Qatar for the tournament, in which European clubs have won the last player that we want to see appear- they are Europe’s representatives six editions. playing his best football at ances. Man United,” Solskjaer said. “We just need to get him fit and match fit. It might be half an hour, 45, 60, 90 — who knows, the first game. We’re working hard to get him back but now he’s ill.” Pogba reported- ly had permission from the club to attend his brother’s wedding over the weekend, with United drawing 1-1 with Everton in his