Sports
Real Madrid does not need to sign goalkeeper: Zidane
Madrid, Jan 6 (IANS) Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Saturday denied that his club needed to contract a goalkeeper during the winter transfer window.
During a press conference one day before the La Liga match against Celta Vigo, Zidane commented on reports that link Athletic Bilbao’s net minder Kepa Arrizabalaga with a move to Real Madrid, reports Efe.
“As a coach, I do not need a goalkeeper now. If there are changes in June … there may be positions to sign in by then. But for now, I don’t see that,” Zidane said.
“That’s why I don’t talk about players who don’t belong to Real Madrid, and above all out of respect for my squad,” Zidane added.
Although Zidane opened the door for players to join the club, he said he was satisfied with his current squad.
He said he was not the kind of coach who resorts to the transfer window when the squad stumbles.
Real Madrid holds the fourth spot in the La Liga standings with 31 points, 14 points behind leader Barcelona.
Barcelona defeated the Blancos at Santiago Bernabeu stadium 0-3 on December 23.
Zidane said he understood the importance of the upcoming match on Jan.7 against Celta de Vigo, which holds the 11th spot.
He denied that his star forward Cristiano Ronaldo was going to leave, as media had reported.
“I think that Cristiano is a Real Madrid player. I think he wants to end his career here, I can’t imagine him not playing for this club,” Zidane added.
–IANS
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.