Real Madrid coach Zidane defends players after Copa shocker against Alcoyano | OneFootball

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane refused to turn on his players after their Copa del Rey defeat to little Alcoyano.

The Frenchman's position has been questioned of late and this latest setback is sure to ramp up the pressure already on him, but he's trying to keep a level head.

"Things are said when we lose," Zidane said after the game. "I'm calm, I think the players wanted to win when they were on the pitch.

"We'll have to see what will happen in the next few days.

"I think [the players still believe in me]. We tried. We've done good things this season, but not recently.

"You have to ask the players if they are getting the message, but I think they are."

Asked if he feels responsibility for the situation, Zidane accepted some blame.

"I think it's my responsibility as coach," Zidane said. "This is football.

"You have to take your chances. The ball didn't want to go in and now, well, we're out."

Refusing to label this latest defeat as more painful than any other, Zidane knows that Real Madrid are facing a turbulent time.

"The truth is that we have tried," Zidane said when asked if the result was a failure. "We had chances, but these things can happen.

"It's a tough time, we're out. We had to do more, but we didn't. But we have tried."