Zidane, Real hoping for more glory

Afterenjoying extraordinary success in 2017, with an unprecedented haul offive trophies, Zinedine Zidane begins his third year in charge of RealMadrid with a trip to second-tier Numancia in the Copa del Rey today.Thematch will mark the second anniversary of Zidane’s appointment asMadrid coach as the successor to the sacked Rafael Benitez. TheFrenchman has since gone on to win eight out of a possible 10 trophiesfrom just 116 games in charge, a remarkable tally for someone who hadnever previously coached at the top level.“Your appetite comes from eating. We are never tired of winning,” Zidane said at a press conference yesterday.“Perhapsit does wear you down a bit. Certainly, when you are at such a high,the only way to go is down a bit before you can then climb back upagain.”After last season’s Champions League and La Liga double triumph, Real have already won three trophies this season.They followed their victories in the European and Spanish SuperCups at the start of the campaign by winning the Club World Cup inDecember to make it a record five trophies for the year.However, theyear ended with a 3-0 home defeat to Barcelona in the clasico, a resultthat left them fourth in La Liga, 14 points behind their great rivalsat the summit, albeit with a game in hand.The Copa del Rey is the one trophy Real have not won under Zidane, and they will be eager to avoid a slip-up when they go to the bitterly cold northern town of Soria to face Numancia in the first leg of their last-16 tie.Itis the start of what will be a hectic month, as long as Real continueto progress in the Cup, before they host Paris Saint-Germain in the last16 of the Champions League in February.“I will try to finish theseason as well as possible because we still have a great chance ofwinning things again,” added Zidane, who is without Karim Benzema due toinjury.“That is what motivates me and the team. I am not looking beyond the next six months.”Meanwhile,Zidane was guarded on suggestions that the club would make a move forthe Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in this month’stransfer window.“We have the possibility of signing players until January 31 so anything could happen.“I am satisfied with my squad. I have built it myself, so I take responsibility for that.”HoldersBarcelona also play today, travelling to Celta Vigo, who eliminatedReal last season in the quarter-finals. The return matches will beplayed next midweek. Fixtures TODAYCelta Vigo v Barcelona, Leganes v Villarreal (both 1800 GMT), Numancia v Real Madrid, Espanyol v Levante (both 2000 GMT)