Madrid: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Wednesday confirmed that he has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the European champions until 2020. “It’s signed,” said the French star after his side drew 2-2 with Numancia to progress to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey 5-2 on aggregate.
After a dream start at Real, with eight trophies out of a possible 10, Zidane has endured a tough season with his side 16 points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
And the 45-year-old cautioned: “I’m enjoying what I do every day, because that’s the way it is. I can’t imagine myself as a coach in two, three years, because things are not like that. I know how it goes, nothing more, even with this contract it does not change anything.”
On Wednesday, Real fielded an almost unrecognisable team and struggled into the Copa del Rey last-eight. Zidane could afford to rest his superstars with one eye on La Liga and the Champions League last 16 with a clash against Paris Saint-Germain next month. However, they were far from convincing at the Bernabeu. Lucas Vazquez scored both of Real’s goals after the 11th and 59th minutes.
But on both occasions, their modest visitors fought back thanks to a brace from Guillermo on the stroke of half-time and then after 82 minutes. Numancia ended the game with 10 men after captain Dani Calvo was red-carded in the dying moments.
Leganes, a modest club from the Madrid suburbs, reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their 89-year existence. Despite losing 2-1 at Villarreal, who are currently sixth in La Liga, Leganes progressed on away goals having won the first leg 1-0.
Moroccan international Nabil El Zhar scored the crucial away goal for mid-table Leganes on the half-hour mark. In the night’s other early second leg tie, last season’s runners-up Alaves downed third division Formentera 2-0 for a 5-1 aggregate win.
Last night, three-time defending champions Barcelona were playing Celta Vigo with the two sides locked at 1-1.
Spanish Copa del Rey last 16, second leg results
Alaves 2 (Demirovic 55, Pedraza 90+1) Formentera 0
Alaves win 5-1 on aggregate
Villarreal 2 (Raba 48, Cheryshev 89) Leganes 1 (El Zhar 31)
Aggregate score 2-2, Leganes through on away goals
Real Madrid 2 (Lucas Vazquez 10, 59) Numancia 2 (Guillermo 45, 82)
Real Madrid win 5-2 on aggregate
Played Tuesday
Atletico Madrid 3 (Carrasco 57, Gameiro 74, Vitolo 81) Lleida 0
Atletico Madrid win 7-0 on aggregate
Valencia 4 (Vietto 30, 48, 66, Maksimovic 54) Las Palmas 0
Valencia win 5-1 on aggregate
Zinedine Zidane
