Zidane hails Real character

Zinedine Zidane praised the character of his Real Madrid players as they came from behind to beat Huesca.

Zidane admits it is difficult not to be aiming for trophy success this season but believes his players showed motivation to come from behind as Karim Benzema scored a last-gasp winner to secure a 3-2 win and spare Real’s blushes against La Liga’s bottom club.

After falling behind early on to Cucho Hernandez’s strike, Zidane’s side thought they had turned things around through Isco and Dani Ceballos.

But the lowly visitors levelled through Xabier Etxeita, only for Benzema to settle the game with a stunning 89th-minute strike.

Zidane won three Champions League titles in a row before leaving the Bernabeu but is now back at the helm and does not have the chance to add to his silverware this season. “At a team like Madrid, when you know you will not win a trophy, it is difficult, in moments during games,” he told reporters after the game. “That is normal.

But we are all pros here and will try and finish the season as well as possible – motivation is intrinsic and each player has their own.”