Dimitar Berbatov, former star of Manchester United and Tottenham, and now ambassador for Betfair, has applauded the work being done at Real Madrid by Zinedine Zidane, especially after so many doubts had been raised about him early in the season.

ZIdane must be laughing

"This week a saw pictures of Eden Hazard returning to training," the Bulgarian said as part of a review for the betting company. "But despite the fact that he has been out injured, Real Madrid are doing really well and they are proving that they can do without anyone.

"At the start of the season there were rumours that Zinedine Zidane could get fired and questions were being asked about why he had returned, but I bet he is laughing in his office now when he looks at the table and the results they are getting.

Laughing off the doubters | Zinedine Zidane Rodrigo Jiménez (EFE)

"I'm not surprised they are doing so well, Zidane was there before and he has won so much with them. I hope Hazard gets back to playing as soon as possible because he is a big signing and there is a lot of pressure on him to perform."

Courtois and his feet

Los Blancos go into Saturday's local derby against Atlético Madrid without Hazard or Gareth Bale, but with the fixture list looking favourable to them for the run-in, and a new found defensive solidity, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been getting more praise. And Berbatov had some words to say about him too.

Save | Courtois has refound his form. JAVIER GANDUL (DIARIO AS)

"I have always like De Gea and not just because I have played with him in the same team. For me he is almost the complete goalkeeper. I say almost because I think he needs to play a bit more with his two feet. He has had a major upgrade since the time that I was there with him. You can see how he is comfortable on the ball, passing it out from the back, looking for team mates.

Looking at other goalkeepers he isn't the only one, Courtois for example still needs to do a lot more work with his feet and I remember when he started at Real Madrid it was difficult for him, but it is good to see him getting his place there and he is also up there with the best goalkeepers in the world along with Jan Oblak, Ter Stegen and Manuel Neuer."