Zinedine Zidane took to the media room in the aftermath of his side's final training session ahead of Sunday's game against Sevilla (9pm CET). The boss previewed his side's trip to the Sánchez-Pizjuán in the following terms: "We travel to what's a tough ground for visiting teams. We know who we're up against, they're top and have been performing well since the start of the season. It's an attractive game for us. We want to put in a good performance and that's what we're going to do. The players are all set and ready to deliver a great performance, which is all that we're bothered about". "We've got to keep working if we're to get out of this rut. We're not happy with our latest defeat but we've got to keep working and prepare for our games properly. The good thing about football is that we've got the chance to put things right tomorrow and I'm convinced that we're going to put in a really good display. That's what drives me on. Tomorrow we've got a chance to show just how good we are. We've now analysed what happened in Paris. I'm focused on tomorrow's game and we have to give our all to win". Do you feel strong? "Yes, of course. If I read what's being said then I'm already out. I'm not interested in what goes on outside of here. All that I'm bothered about is what I'm going to do with the players. I feel strong. I've never thrown the towel in and am going to keep working and keep going up right until the last minute and up until I'm given the chance to work with my players". Criticism "It doesn't surprise me, it's the way things go. We've always had difficulties, even when we've been winning. There have been some tough times at this club and we've always managed to get through them. There have been tougher times than this in the past. I'm not interested in what's said outside of here. I'm only interested in the job I have to do. It's in tough spells like this that your inner strength comes out". "What goes on away from here is always like this. What goes on internally is different. We work on improving things. The fans want the same thing as us: to win. The only way we can improve things is by working hard. Tomorrow's is an attractive game for us and I hope that we perform well". Feeling questioned by the club? "No, quite the opposite. Right up until the very last, the strength of everything lies in those who work for the club. When that's not the case, it's best to get out". Intensity "There are times, like on Wednesday night, that we lacked intensity. Everything was there in the first half against Levante, when we looked really strong from the off. In Vigo, which is a tough place to go, we were clinical in everything we did. We'll be looking to reproduce that in tomorrow's game".

"Nowadays football requires you to put in the intensity. There are games where you need to be very strong in terms of attacking and defensive transitions. On Wednesday we came off second best in that department. You can't work on intensity when you play every three days, but you know that when you take to the pitch you have to be strong and keep up that tempo during the game".



Squad's performance levels

"We're capable of doing more in the 90 minutes, but we've always had both tough and good times. Tomorrow we face the league leaders and we have to try and go there and get the win. I know how tough it is at this club, you can't afford to have two poor results in a row. We had one in Paris and now we've got another game in which we've got to pull through and perform better. That's what we're going to do".



Would you resign if you don't feel as if you were being backed?

"I'm not thinking about that, I'm only focused on winning tomorrow's game. The tough thing is that we can't control what's said outside, the only thing we can control is what we're going to go out and do tomorrow".



Does it bother you that [José] Mourinho is being mentioned as your successor?

"No, I don't have to say whether it bothers me or not. It is what it is. When you lose one game at this club, we have to change everything. It's tough but it's the way it is. That's why the only thing I'm bothered about is what we're going to do as a team tomorrow. We're up against a good side and we have to win".



Days off

"I've also heard that the club wasn't happy about that. When I look at organising things with the squad, there are many players who've been away on international duty and we have to give them a day off. It's not a question as to whether they deserved it or not. With seven games in the space of 21 days, that was the day to give them the day off. It's also important to spend time with the family. We got back at 4am... People don't see it like that and say that we're going to kill them for having a day off. We always want to win, but at times you've got to accept it and try to change things to win".



Did you say no to the signings of [Donny] van de Beek and [Christian] Eriksen?

"I'm not going to tell you whether I did or not. It's a club issue and the squad is what it is. You'll next be asking me about [Paul] Pogba. The squad is what it is".



Do you regret having returned?

"No, it would be easy to say that at a tough time. I decided to come back to work on a new project. We're not in an easy place right now but I'm always going to keep trying. Winning appears to be easy for everyone. I look at what people say and it all looks very doom and gloom. When things get a bit tough, you've got to keep on fighting".