Zinedine Zidane has rubbished reports that he told his Real Madrid players he will leave at the end of the season as a "lie".
Zidane was asked about his future following Sunday's 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao, a result that keeps alive their slim title hopes as they trail city rivals Atletico by two points heading into La Liga's final weekend.
Onda Cero radio and football website Goal.com both reported on Sunday that the Frenchman told his players either before or after last week's match against Sevilla that he would vacate his position at the end of the campaign.
But Zidane, whose contract runs until the summer of 2022, said in Sunday's post-match press conference he had not spoken to his players on the matter.
"How am I going to tell my players that I am going now? It's a lie," he said.
"I focus on this season. There is a game left and we are going to give everything. I only care what happens in this finale. The rest, we will see at the end of the season."
Former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, legendary Madrid and Spain striker Raul and Joachim Low, who will step down as Germany coach at the end of this summer's European Championship, have all been mentioned as possible successors.
Zidane hinted on Saturday he could leave, saying he believes "there comes a time when it's the moment to change".
"I don't leave because it's easy. It's not like I turn away and don't look back," Zidane said.
"No, there are moments when you have to be there and there are moments when that's it, it's finished, it's time to change. But for the good of everyone, not just for me."
A second-half goal from defender Nacho sealed victory at San Mames.
The result saw second-placed Real move onto 81 points, two behind city rivals Atletico Madrid, who beat Osasuna 2-1 on Sunday thanks to two dramatic late goals.
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
