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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane defiant despite clasico defeat

Goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal leave Real 14 points behind in the title race

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The Independent Sport
Zidane watched his side get humbled at the Bernabeu AFP

Zinedine Zidane admitted that the defeat against Barcelona is “really difficult” but assured that “there is no need to change anything”.

However, the French manager recognized that he will probably receive a lot of criticism after being humiliated by their bitter rivals in the clasico.

After watching goals from Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal leave his side 14 points behind in the title race a defiant Zidane said that they “are not going to surrender”.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Player ratings

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Player ratings

  • 1/22 Keylor Navas - 7 out of 10

    At fault for the final goal but very little he could do about the other two

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 2/22 Dani Carvajal - 4

    Sent off for an cynical handball in the second half

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 3/22 Raphael Varane - 5

    Did his best but was left wholly exposed for Suarez's opener

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 4/22 Sergio Ramos - 5

    Stayed on the pitch - for a change - but isn't the defender he once was anymore

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 5/22 Marcelo - 6

    Got forward well early but faded

    Getty Images

  • 6/22 Casemiro - 5

    Left his back four exposed for Suarez's goal. Subbed shortly after

    Getty Images

  • 7/22 Luka Modric - 6

    Wasn't his usual self despite starting the game well

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 8/22 Mateo Kovacic - 6

    Did a job on Messi for large parts of the game but didn't do enough the other way

    Getty Images

  • 9/22 Toni Kroos - 6

    Not his finest display

    Getty Images

  • 10/22 Cristiano Ronaldo - 6

    Flashed signs of his class but not enough to give his side a way back. Snatched at a couple of chances when passes would have been the better option

    Getty Images

  • 11/22 Karim Benzema - 7

    Should have done better with first half header. Lacked service as game progressed

    Getty Images

  • 12/22 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen - 7

    Saved well in the first-half but became relatively untroubled

    Getty Images

  • 13/22 Sergi Roberto - 8

    Kept Ronaldo on a relatively short leash and got forward well

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 14/22 Gerard Pique - 8

    His best performance of the season. Excellent

    Getty Images

  • 15/22 Thomas Vermaelen - 7

    Considering his lack of playing time a tremendous display under pressure

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 16/22 Jordi Alba - 7

    Got forward superbly while always tracking back

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 17/22 Paulinho - 7

    Brilliant again. An unsung hero who was often Barca's biggest attacking threat

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 18/22 Ivan Rakitic - 7

    Excellent against Real's formidable midfield. Created the opener brilliantly

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 19/22 Sergio Busquets - 8

    At his powerful best. His composure for the opener set Barca on their way

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 20/22 Andres Iniesta - 7

    Not quite the influence he once was but still a classy customer

    Getty Images

  • 21/22 Lionel Messi - 9

    The main man as ever. Scored the second from the spot before making the third in style

    AFP/Getty Images

  • 22/22 Luis Suarez - 7

    Quiet for large parts but took his goal superbly

    AFP/Getty Images

“Now with have to go in vacation, do not think about the match, enjoy our families and then come. This has not already finished," he added.

Although the final result shows a great dominance by Barcelona, the first half was even and Real had chances to get ahead.

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No white Christmas for Real as Barcelona leave Zidane in deep trouble

“We started well, the first half was even and the defeat really hurt us. It is very harsh for us, but it is football”, explained Zidane.

“I am here to make decisions. During the first half, if we had scored any of the chances, it would have been really different”.

One surprise was the inclusion of Mateo Kovacic in the line-up, something that Zidane justified afterwards.

“I have to choose and that is all. With Kovacic it was different. He had to look Messi out and he did it well. That is what we decided before the match”, he added.

In spite of the critics, Zidane insists that he is “not going to change, whatever happens”.