MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 17:42:17| >> :60:1226:1226:

Zinedine Zidane eyes Club World Cup glory to kickstart season

Zinedine Zidane says that winning the Club World Cup for a second year in a row "will not be easy", as Real Madrid prepare to face Al Jazira in Wednesday's semi-final.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has targeted back-to-back Club World Cup crowns to kickstart his side's flagging campaign.

Los Blancos have yet to truly get going domestically, finding themselves in fourth place and eight points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona after dropping points in six of their 15 games.

Zidane's men also finished second to Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League group, setting up a daunting last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain in February, though they have already added the UEFA Super Cup and Supercopa de Espana to their trophy cabinet this term.

Ahead of Wednesday's semi-final against Al Jazira at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Zidane outlined his hopes of earning more major honours in the coming months.

"It will not be easy and last year we had a lot of problems before we managed to win it," he told reporters. "There will not be easy games and for just being Real Madrid we are not going to win. We have time to prepare for the game and there are no excuses.

"This is the calendar and whoever we face we need to look at doing what we have to do well. It is normal that during the season you have ups and downs but what we have done so far is very positive.

"We have won two titles [this term] and we are trying to win a third. After this we will have six months to fight for La Liga, the Champions League and the cup."

Two-time winners Madrid beat Japanese side Kashima Antlers 4-2 in last year's Club World Cup final after recovering from a goal down.

ID:313938: cacheID:313938:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2540:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in action during his side's Premier League clash with Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on January 14, 2017
Read Next:
Real to make quick decision on Courtois?
>
Read more about Zinedine Zidane Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal157532725226
7Osasuna176742225-325
8Real Sociedad167361611524
9GironaGirona176472325-222
10Sevilla176471823-522
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe173771114-316
16AlavesAlaves174491928-916
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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!