Media Criticisms Affected Benzema – Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has undermined the idea of his team facing a defensive crisis for Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal return at home to Juventus, suggesting that youngster Jesus Vallejo will be fit to make his competition debut at centre-back.

Zidane told the pregame news conference that Vallejo had come through Tuesday’s training session OK, but if required he had the squad to “adapt to the situation.”

“Jesus trained well, until the end, did not feel anything,” Zidane said. “So we will see tomorrow who will play. But we are without problems, and if we have a problem we will adapt with the situation. But at the moment we are all ready.”

Elsewhere under-fire centre-forward Karim Benzema is expected to return to the starting XI, with Gareth Bale returning to the bench for a fourth successive big Champions League game, despite providing the assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal last weekend against Atletico.

Zidane admitted his fellow Frenchman was “suffering” due to media criticism recently, and would prefer to have scored more than just nine times in his 34 games across all competitions so far this term.

“Karim is the same as always,” he said. “The only thing is that maybe he is suffering with what has been said. But he is training well, committed, and focused. Although he would like to be scoring more goals, and be playing better.”