See The First Real Madrid Training Under Zidane

Real Madrid’s new coach Zinedine Zidane attends a training session in Valdebebas, outside Madrid, Spain, January 5, 2016.

Barca are set to face Espanyol in the Copa del Rey at the Camp Nou on Wednesday, before returning to league action at home to Granada on Saturday.

Speaking about Bale, Zidane said: “Gareth was disappointed with the sacking of Rafa because he was an important coach for him but I will treat him the same way Rafa did”. I haven’t seen the picture and I don’t remember any friction with Zidane.

The former France captain has replaced Rafael Benitez, who was sacked on Monday after just seven months in charge at the Bernabeu, and takes up his first role in senior management.

Guardiola moving to Real would have been an explosive appointment, and possibly generated as much outcry from Barcelona as when Luis Figo was a player.

“It’s a new era for me”.

“I worked with Mourinho, with Ancelotti and I also visited Guardiola”.

“I want to communicate this as a coach and make sure that the players enjoy themselves on the pitch, as they did for sure with Rafa Benitez”.

Deportivo sit seventh in the table, 10 points adrift of Madrid. They will play AS Roma in UEFA Champions League round of 16.

On the injury front for the hosts, Dani Carvajal (hamstring) has not played since November, but Sergio Ramos returned to play in the 2-2 draw with Valencia, which turned out to be Benitez’s final match in charge.

Houllier, who is in Sydney as coach of a Liverpool “legends” side playing on Thursday, said the former attacking midfielder Zidane – whom he coached as manager of the French national side in the early 1990s – had bided his time before assuming the top job at the Spanish side.