MX23RW : Tuesday, April 30 04:56:51| >> :120:28951:28951:
[monks data]
Attendance: 56,900
Real Madrid logo
La Liga
May 19, 2019 at 11am UK
 
Real Betis logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Moron (62'), Rodriguez (75')

Zinedine Zidane accepts blame for poor Real Madrid season

The manager would not be drawn on Gareth Bale's future, though.

Zinedine Zidane has accepted his share of the blame for Real Madrid's disastrous season.

Speaking after watching his side slip to a 2-0 home defeat by Real Betis in their final LaLiga fixture, Zidane, who returned to the Bernabeu to replace Santiago Solari in March, pulled no punches in his assessment of the campaign.

He told a press conference: "What happened this year has to be accepted. I'm to blame – we've had 11 games and won just 5. That is what it is.

"When a season starts off badly and then you are not playing for a trophy, I think it is hard to play well if there is nothing to play for. Motivation is a strange thing, it is part of our reality.

"During the week, it always seems like we are going to have a good match but in the end, it just doesn't happen due to many circumstances.

"Now we have to focus on next season because we want to please the fans and I can tell them right now that we are going to prepare well in pre-season. We are going to have plenty of time to focus on our work and set up a great season. We're going to compete from the off."

Zidane has indicated he will overhaul the squad he inherited over the summer, with some big names likely to be casualties.

Wales international Gareth Bale did not make it off the bench as Real Madrid's season drew to a disappointing conclusion
Wales international Gareth Bale did not make it off the bench as Real Madrid's season drew to a disappointing conclusion (Darren Staples/PA)

Wales international Gareth Bale has found himself at the centre of speculation in recent weeks, and his displeasure was clear as headed straight down the tunnel after he was left sitting on the bench.

However, Zidane would not be drawn on his future.

The manager said: "I don't know what will happen. I've called upon other players lately. I'm making decisions about who plays and who is on the bench, but next year anything can happen.

"Today he didn't play because others have come in. I'm sorry that he didn't get minutes today, but next year who knows what will happen?

"I have to take decisions and when I don't like things or something doesn't seem right, I have to change them.

"Nobody is going to change what the player has done at this club, but day-to-day, it is like that. We live in the present, although we will not forget the past."

If Zidane was looking to the future after the final whistle, opposite number Quique Setien was heading through the exit door, with Betis announcing his departure shortly after goals from Loren Morn and substitute Jese had sealed a famous win.

It was left to Jese to reflect upon a season which saw the club miss out on European qualification by nine points.

He told LaLiga TV: "The teams which manage to get into the Champions League or the Europa League, they need consistency, they need more points, they need to play well and maybe we have just let too many points slip away through our fingers, really.

"But that's football. Football is about winning and to get into European competitions, you need to win."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sports Staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '924c717f-e06f-49be-9784-467f21635d22');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Next year will be different, Zidane promises Real fans after season to forget'});

ID:359717: cacheID:359717:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8697:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gareth Bale in action for Real Madrid on April 6, 2019
Read Next:
Zidane coy on Gareth Bale future despite recalling Welshman
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2Barcelona33227468392973
3GironaGirona33225669402971
4Atletico MadridAtletico33204962392364
5Athletic Bilbao331610753332058
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis33121384139249
8Valencia33138123738-147
9Villarreal33129125455-145
10Getafe331013104145-443
11Osasuna33116163749-1239
12Sevilla33911134246-438
13AlavesAlaves33108153138-738
14Las PalmasLas Palmas33107163041-1137
15Rayo Vallecano33713132742-1534
16Mallorca33614132739-1232
17Celta Vigo33710163750-1331
18CadizCadiz33414152346-2326
19Granada3349203661-2521
RAlmeria33111213267-3514


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!