Zidane not asking for new signing at Real Madrid

Madrid Jan 4 (IANS) Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he has no wishes for 2018 other than good health and happiness and that he has not asked the club for any new players in the January transfer window.

He was speaking ahead of Thursday s King s Cup game away to second tier side Numancia.

It was Zidane s first press conference in Spain since his side were thrashed 3-0 at home to Barcelona on December 23 to leave them 14 points off the top of the Liga Santander table reports Xinhua news agency.

Zidane came in for serious criticism after the defeat but he said he was optimistic about 2018.

"We are in three competitions and we have the same excitement and we will do everything to give the maximum in every game. We return to the Cup and hope to continue into the next round " he said.

Madrid have struggled to score goals this season with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema netting just six between them in the league. But Zidane doesn t see the need for new faces.

The Madrid coach admitted meeting club President Florentino Perez to discuss possible signings.

"We spoke about everything and also about reinforcements. Today there will be no signings but until January 31 anything can happen " he commented adding that what he didn t want was "for any player to leave the squad".

--IANS
gau/mr