• Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr celebrates his team's winner - courtesy of an own goal - against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday, December 6. EPA
    Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr celebrates his team's winner - courtesy of an own goal - against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday, December 6. EPA
  • Real Madrid's players celebrate their goal against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. AP
    Real Madrid's players celebrate their goal against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. AP
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, second right, and Raphael Varane centre top, fights for the ball with Sevilla's Fernando and Diego Carlos, left. AP
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, second right, and Raphael Varane centre top, fights for the ball with Sevilla's Fernando and Diego Carlos, left. AP
  • Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. EPA
    Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Casemiro on Saturday. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Casemiro on Saturday. Reuters
  • Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. EPA
    Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, challenges for the ball with Sevilla's Jules Kounde. AP
    Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, challenges for the ball with Sevilla's Jules Kounde. AP
  • Sevilla's Luuk de Jong, top, vies for the ball with Real Madrid's Casemiro. AP
    Sevilla's Luuk de Jong, top, vies for the ball with Real Madrid's Casemiro. AP
  • Jules Kounde of Sevilla FC takes a shot under pressure from Karim Benzema. Getty
    Jules Kounde of Sevilla FC takes a shot under pressure from Karim Benzema. Getty
  • Sevilla FC's Jesus Navas with Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy. EPA
    Sevilla FC's Jesus Navas with Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy. EPA
  • Real Madrid's Raphael Varane at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. EPA
    Real Madrid's Raphael Varane at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. EPA

Zinedine Zidane 'only thinking about winning' ahead of Real Madrid's make-or-break Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach


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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists he is not concerned about reports that he will be sacked if his side fail to progress from the Champions League group stage.

The 13-time European champions, who have never failed to make it out of the group stage, host Group B leaders Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday needing to better Shakhtar Donetsk's result against Inter Milan in order to progress.

Local media reports suggest that Zidane will be forced out should Real not go through to the last 16, however the Frenchman insisted his only focus is on getting the three points, rather than his future.

After last week's Champions League defeat at  Shakhtar Donetsk, Zidane said that he had no intention of resigning despite the 2-0 loss that left his team's qualifying hopes in the balance.

"The club will do what they have to do [in the event of not qualifying], as they always do, but I'm only thinking about the game," Zidane told a news conference.

"I'm not thinking about anything else other than winning. I'm focused on tomorrow's game and we know what we have to do. It'll be tough, but we need to be able to walk off the pitch satisfied with our work.

"We know there's another game going on [Inter versus Shakhtar], but we're only thinking about our game. We're up against a tough side who will make life difficult for us.

"We know exactly what the situation is. We want to get the three points and finish top of the group; that's what we're all thinking about. All matches are important but this is a great chance to show what we are as a team."

Zidane will welcome back captain Sergio Ramos to the side after the defender missed the last six games through injury.

Full back Dani Carvajal also took a full part in training on Tuesday, having been absent for the side's last four matches. However, forward Luka Jovic will miss out after suffering an adductor problem.

Monchengladbach manager Marco Rose warned his players not to take anything for granted, despite being so close to qualifying for the next stage.

Gladbach could have made sure of qualification last week but instead lost to Inter 3-2 at home. "Such teams [like Real] function best under pressure," Rose said. "We also saw that against Inter Milan.

"Playing for a draw is never a wise decision. We know what to expect and that we will need to defend really hard and with passion. But we also know that with our quality we will get our chances to be successful."

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Gallery: Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Real Madrid 0

  • Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane gives instructions to substitutes Mariano, Isco and Vinicius Junior during the Champions League defeat against against Shakhtar Donetsk. Reuters
    Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane gives instructions to substitutes Mariano, Isco and Vinicius Junior during the Champions League defeat against against Shakhtar Donetsk. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk's Dentinho scores their first goal against Real Madrid. Reuters
    Shakhtar Donetsk's Dentinho scores their first goal against Real Madrid. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk manager Luis Castro celebrates with his players at the end of the match after beating Real Madrid. Reuters
    Shakhtar Donetsk manager Luis Castro celebrates with his players at the end of the match after beating Real Madrid. Reuters
  • Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez tackles Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Soloman. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez tackles Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Soloman. Reuters
  • Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy talk on the touchline. Reuters
    Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy talk on the touchline. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Soloman celebrates scoring the second goal with Mateus Tete. Reuters
    Shakhtar Donetsk's Manor Soloman celebrates scoring the second goal with Mateus Tete. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk's Taison takes on Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. Reuters
    Shakhtar Donetsk's Taison takes on Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane. Reuters
  • Real Madrid forward Lucas Vazquez goes to catch the ball as Zinedine Zidane watches on from the touchline. AFP
    Real Madrid forward Lucas Vazquez goes to catch the ball as Zinedine Zidane watches on from the touchline. AFP
  • Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Dentinho runs with the ball during the Champions League match against Real Madrid. AFP
    Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Dentinho runs with the ball during the Champions League match against Real Madrid. AFP
  • Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko heads the ball during the Champions League match against Real Madrid. AFP
    Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko heads the ball during the Champions League match against Real Madrid. AFP
  • Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois lays on the ground as Shakhtar Donetsk's Marlos celebrates the first goal scored by Dentinho. Reuters
    Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois lays on the ground as Shakhtar Donetsk's Marlos celebrates the first goal scored by Dentinho. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk forward Tete tracks Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez. AFP
    Shakhtar Donetsk forward Tete tracks Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez. AFP
  • Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy attempts to control the ball under pressure from Shakhtar Donetsk's Dodo. Reuters
    Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy attempts to control the ball under pressure from Shakhtar Donetsk's Dodo. Reuters
  • Shakhtar Donetsk's Vitao in action with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. Reuters
    Shakhtar Donetsk's Vitao in action with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. Reuters