French legend and Real Madrid reserve team coach Zinedine Zidane has played down suggestions he could be set to replace the under-pressure Rafael Benitez in the top job at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid were humiliated 4-0 at home by Barcelona on Saturday to pile the pressure on Benitez after just 16 games in charge.
Zidane has been coaching Real Madrid Castilla for the last 18 months, but was deemed not ready for the step up after a disappointing first season in charge.
“I am coach of Castilla and Benitez of the first team. Things are fine at the moment.
“I am with Castilla and if I stay at the club it is to coach Castilla. Last year, at the end of the season, I had the feeling that I still lacked something to take over the first team.
“I am doing things little by little and I am in no rush. The important thing is to be happy day-to-day with what I am doing. Right now I'm at Castilla.”
The Madrid fans called for club president Florentino Perez's resignation towards the end of Saturday's thrashing.
And reports in Spain had suggested appointing the hugely popular Zidane could help Perez ease the fans' frustration with his running of the club. – AFP