Ronaldo and Bale fit to play classico

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed
that Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are both
fit to start Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona,
while playing down the "must-win" nature of the
game with his team 11 points behind the La Liga
leaders.
Ronaldo was unable to train with his teammates
on his return from scoring the winning goal in
Saturday's Club World Cup final victory over
Gremio due to a calf issue, but took part in the
public part of Friday's prematch session at
Valdebebas.
The week has also brought further debate over
the 32-year-old's long-term future at Madrid,
amid a public disagreement with club president
Florentino Perez over whether the five-time Ballon
d'Or winner deserves a pay rise.
Zidane told his prematch news conference that
Ronaldo had come through training fine and was
available to start, while all contract issues were
being parked until after the winter break.
"Cristiano is good, at 100 percent," Zidane said.
"He trained today, and that is what interests me.
I will not talk about other things, we are only
interested in tomorrow's game, all of us. What
Cristiano has done, everything, he deserves total
respect from the club, and he gets it. After the
holidays there will be more talk about all this."
Zidane also said he has no concerns about
starting fit-again Gareth Bale, who also came
back from injury to begin last April's La Liga
Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, but limped off
before half-time in a game Madrid lost 3-2.
"I trust completely in my players, which is the
most important, the communication," Zidane
said. "What happened with Gareth [in April] can
happen with any player. The important thing, for
me, is that the player thinks he is 100 percent
ready to play. Gareth is now. We will see
tomorrow if he does."
Madrid go into Saturday's game at the Bernabeu
11 points behind Barca, albeit having played a
game less.
Zidane denied that a defeat would leave his side
having to focus on the cup competitions after the
winter break, saying his team were looking
forward to the challenge of cutting the gap.
"Whatever happens tomorrow we will keep
working, knowing this is very long," he said.
"Tomorrow is three more points, but it will not
[decide] anything. We have dropped some points
but this is still very long and we can recover.
"It will be the most difficult game of the season.
Barca vs. Madrid are always very difficult games,
but the players play for these type of games. To
win a league there is the whole year, but Madrid
vs. Barca, the players always think of this date,
and we are ready to play it.
"There is no nerves among us, it does not matter
if it is 11, 5, 20 points. What we can control is
our own game tomorrow, and we will have to
play a great game against a very good team. All
games are really finals, but it is always about
staying relaxed and playing your football."
Zidane said that Barca deserved their current lead
in the standings, while declining to comment on
whether he thought their style of play this season
was not as convincing as in previous campaigns.
"Barca are top of the table, that is a fact, and
there is a reason for that," he said. "I cannot say
if they are playing good or bad. We are coming
from behind, and trying to cut the gap a bit
tomorrow. But what is most important to me is
that if we play well ourselves, play football, we
can do damage to any team."
A question about whether Barca's players would
provide a guard of honour for the Club World Cup
champions before the match, a hot topic in some
local media coverage this week, was dismissed
by the Madrid boss.
"I am not interested in these things, not at all,"
Zidane said. "I am just interested in the game,
the players, the fans also."