Football
ESPN staff 8y

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema to sit out UEFA Super Cup - Zinedine Zidane

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said he is not worried to be without Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale for Tuesday's Super Cup against Sevilla.

Zidane on Monday announced his 20-man squad for the European Super Cup final, which includes his son Luca.

Ronaldo, Bale, Pepe and Kroos are notable absentees, omitted after returning later than the rest of the squad due to participating in the European Championship. Ronaldo is recovering from an injury picked up while playing for Portugal in the Euro 2016 final against France.

The squad, which will have to be cut to 18 players, features new signing Alvaro Morata who will replace Benzema in attack.

Real face the Europa League winners at the Lerkendal Stadium in Trondheim, Norway on Tuesday evening. 

The Blancos manager said the absences were to be expected.

"Benzema is fine. He hasn't played in the most recent games and we aren't going to take any chances," he told the media. "We are very happy to have him back, he has done all his preparation with us. The most important thing is that he is with us and that he have no further problems."

Zidane had included Benzema in the squad initially named on Monday.

"I am not worried about not having the BBC [Benzema, Bale and Cristiano]," he said. "They played in Euro [2016] and have had regular vacation after a tough season. I would have loved to have had everyone, of course. But I prefer that Gareth and Toni are in Madrid working. They just arrived so it was best that they stayed back. 

"Pepe and Cristiano are still injured. I am not worried. I am happy that we are getting started."

Sergio Ramos insisted Real Madrid can defeat Sevilla even without their top stars.

"We are missing some important players, but we are happy with the squad we have," Ramos said at a news conference. "We will give our all with the players we have. The players who are there are determined to show what they can do.

"It's never too soon to play a game like this. We have enjoyed a good preseason. It is always great to play finals like this and it would be amazing to get the season underway by winning a title. We are all looking forward to it."

But Zidane said he didn't feel Real Madrid were favoured to win.

"This is a Copa match that we both want to win," he said. "I just want to make sure we are prepared and I think we are. The players we have here are ready to play."

Zidane has said he doesn't know what the future holds for Martin Odegaard but admitted that the Norwegian teenager's situation is complicated.

The attacking midfielder is reportedly a target for a loan to West Ham in order to gain first-team experience, but Zidane admitted that anything can happen.

"Martin is with us, he has done the preseason with the group and I am very pleased with him," the manager said of the 17-year-old Castilla player. "We will make a decision about him later, until the 31st a lot can happen.

"My feeling is that he has to play and we all know that in Madrid, that is complicated because we have many players. My advice is that he get minutes. I am pleased with what he has done up to now."

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