Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has denied telling his players he would be leaving after victory over Athletic Bilbao.
With one point separating his side and Atletico Madrid and just one match to spare, Zidane is keen for a positive result at home to Villarreal on Sunday.
“We are going to play our match and we are going to have a difficult match against Villarreal, so we have to concentrate on ourselves,” he said in his post-match press conference.
There were reports Zidane had told his players that he will leave the club at the end of the season, but this was denied by the French coach.
“How am I going to tell my players that I am leaving now, when we are putting everything on the line?” he said.
“When you say things from the outside, you can say whatever you want. I am not ever going to say that to my players.
“At the end of the season we will see, but now I am in this and am focused on the last match.
“We cannot talk constantly about my future, the most important thing is the last match that we have to play.”
Zidane played down the fact that Eden Hazard once again started on the substitute’s bench.
“Nothing has happened with Hazard, it is just that others are playing at the moment,” he said.
“I have to choose the 11 and nothing more.
“He is contributing like everyone else. He comes in, goes out…I have to choose an 11 every week.”