Zinedine Zidane takes responsibility for not signing Kepa Arrizabalaga

Zinedine Zidane stated that he was not the only one to prevent the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga during the winter transfer market. Kepa had a great performance in the draw between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao in the Santiago Bernabeu for La Liga. However, Zidane assumed responsibility as the coach.

"It is the decision of everyone, but I am the coach," Zidane responded in the press conference when asked if he was responsible for not signing Kepa for 20 million in the winter market.

"I have not thought about that at all. If I made the decision to not bring in a goalkeeper in the middle of the season, then it is a topic that does not exist for me. When I start a season, I do it with three goalkeepers and, if nothing happens, I end it with them. That does not mean anything about what I think of a rival goalkeeper, young and very good, but he is not my player. In the middle of the season, I did not need a goalkeeper," justified the Real Madrid coach.

Kepa's performance made him the main "responsible" for Real Madrid stumbling in front of their fans, but Zidane also highlighted Athletic's defensive organization. He self-criticized in a league that has lost interest for his team and focused on the match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.

"The league has been a problem this year, especially at home. Today we did good things and we have to think positively because we have a beautiful end of the season and we have to think about our semi-final. We arrive well physically and at a level of play, results less. Mentally we are good, two regular games will not change our positivism," he acknowledged.

About the upcoming schedule for Real Madrid, the Frenchman said: "Now we have to rest and we will have five training sessions before Wednesday's game. We will prepare well and give everything. We have a semi-final and we will go to death to defend our title, we will not invent anything."

Source: EFE