Zinedine Zidane insists "no one has the blame" for Sergio Ramos returning from Spain duty with a calf injury that has "hurt" Real Madrid for a key stretch of the season.
Ramos returned from a knee issue ahead of the international break and scored for Madrid as they knocked Atalanta out of the Champions League.
However, he then played just 50 minutes across two appearances for Spain in World Cup qualifying and complained of a calf problem after a short cameo at home to Kosovo.
Madrid have not confirmed the anticipated length of Ramos' lay-off, but a return in time to face Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals and Barcelona in LaLiga appears unlikely.
Los Blancos host Liverpool on April 6, with a second leg eight days later sandwiching a critical home Clasico.
Given Ramos has appeared just 20 times for Madrid in all competitions this season, questions might be asked of his involvement for Spain.
But Zidane told a news conference on Friday: "No one has the blame here - not Spain, not Real Madrid. This is just football.
"Unfortunately, these things happen; it's happened before, not just to us but to a lot of other teams as well.
"It's true that, this part of football, we don't like it, of course, but these things happen. We have to accept this, but no one is to blame here.
"What we want for Sergio is that he recovers as quickly as possible. We know the player and captain he is. We know that he always wants to be available and playing.
"This has hurt us a little bit and we hope he recovers quickly."
Ramos' absence for the two legs against Liverpool would appear particularly costly as Madrid have lost seven of the 10 Champions League games he has missed since the end of the 2017-18, the season in which they were last crowned European champions and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo departed.
The centre-back has made 14 European appearances in that time and contributed to 10 wins, losing only once, while Los Blancos concede only 0.9 goals per game with him in the side - down from 1.9 without him.
But Zidane was not looking as far ahead as an intriguing last-eight tie, as Madrid first face Eibar on Saturday, playing before Atletico Madrid and Barca and able to cut the gap at the top to three points.
"You talk about Liverpool and Barcelona - we have a game tomorrow to play," Zidane said.
"We want Sergio back, we want him to be with us at all times, but right now we just focus on tomorrow's game.
"This is going to mark the path for the rest of the season. We just focus on tomorrow and that's it. Tomorrow at 4.15 [CET], we have a game and we have to all be ready, all of us."
Ramos is not Madrid's only injury absentee, either, with Eden Hazard prevented from going away with Belgium and Toni Kroos returning ealry from Germany duty.
Kroos has been a key man this season, playing 35 games and providing nine assists from 83 chances created, and he is "doing better", Zidane said.
The coach added Madrid are "not going to be silly" with the midfielder but he trained on Friday.
Hazard, on the other hand, has repeatedly suffered with fitness issues, restricted to only nine starts in 2020-21 and having a meagre four goal involvements.
"Once again, we don't have a plan with Eden," Zidane said. "It's a day-to-day thing, like everything.
"We're not going to force anything because the most important thing is that he's well, that he's recovered. For us, it's bit by bit.
"I'm not going to tell you we'll re-evaluate in a week, a few days, nothing. If it's in a few days, that's good for us; 10 days, okay. We're just going to take it day by day.
"He is with the team now and that's what we want. When he plays, we'll see."
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Barbados, Belize win League C groups to earn promotion
Barbados and Belize sealed promotion as League C resumed in the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League on Wednesday.
Saint Kitts and Nevis earned a victory to maintain its group lead to also improve to a 3-0-0 record. The victory assures the nation at least a spot in the Play-In round.
British Virgin Islands vs. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis won 3-1 against the British Virgin Islands in Group C at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Malique Roberts scored the opening goal in the 25' with a header in the box to connect on a free kick service.
Gvaune Amory increased the lead for the Sugar Boyz in the 37' with a right-footed hit inside the penalty area, connecting on a pass over the top by Raheem Hanley.
Kristian Javier Samuel cut the deficit for the British Virgin Islands in the 46' with a right-footed hit from the top of the box.
Ikyjah Williams accidentally hit the ball into his own net in the 90'+5, striking a deflection off a ball into the box from Romaine Sawyers for a third goal for Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The result seals a qualification to the Play-In round for Saint Kitts and Nevis. The Sugar Boyz can win the group without playing if the Cayman Islands fails to win against the British Virgin Islands on Saturday.
U.S. Virgin Islands vs. Barbados
Barbados won 5-nil against the U.S. Virgin Islands in Group A at the Wildey Astro Turf Stadium in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Hadan Holligan struck the opening goal in the 42' with a right-footed finish to place Barbados in the lead before the end of the first half.
Niall Reid-Stephen extended the lead for Barbados in the 45'+2 with a conversion from a penalty kick opportunity.
Reid-Stephen scored on the other side of halftime, with a left-footed shot from outside the box in the 47', securing a brace in consecutive matches.
The Barbados scorer struck with his left again, from a free kick chance in the 65', to earn his hat-trick.
Omani Leacock scored inside the penalty area in the 90'+2 to put a bow on the victory for the Tridents.
Kishmar Primus made four saves as he collected his second clean sheet of the campaign.
The victory clinched the top of the group, and a return to League B, for Barbados.
Anguilla vs. Belize
Belize won 1-nil against Anguilla in Group B at FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize.
Orlando Velasquez broke the deadlock in the 56' with a strike inside the box, connecting on a pass from Krisean López.
The Belize defense, led by goalkeeper and captain Charles Tillett, earned its third clean sheet and have yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
With the victory, Belize assured itself a first-place finish in the group and promotion to League B.
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McClaren, Lowe cautious but confident as Boyz hunt Nicaragua scalp in Group B top-of-the-table showdown
While boasting the stronger squad on paper, senior Reggae Boyz Head coach Steve McClaren is by no means grandstanding against Nicaragua, as the two are set to lock horns in a defining Concacaf Nations League encounter.
With both teams unbeaten and locked on four points each in Group B of League A, a win for either at the Nicaragua National Stadium on Thursday, would put them one step closer to a quarterfinal berth and, more importantly, secure their spot in next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.
Kickoff is at 9:00 pm Jamaica time.
Though confident that his squad possesses enough quality to secure the three points, McClaren is not underestimating their opponents, especially in hostile territory where the crowd’s fervor can serve as a crucial 12th man.
“We're coming here to win the game, but without doubt, we respect Nicaragua. I've watched a few of their games and they are a very good team, very comfortable in possession, and always competitive. Like us, they've collected four points, so they're going well in the Nations League, so we respect them,” McClaren said in a pre-game interview.
“If we have to play them on turf, we play them on turf. We have no excuses. Football is football, and they may be a little more used to it, but hopefully our quality will come out in the end. You’ve got to be prepared for anything and so we just need to be smart and stay disciplined,” he added.
Jamaica’s journey in the Nations League so far has been marked by flashes of brilliance and growing cohesion within the squad. The team’s strength lies in its potent attack, which is yet to really fire having only tallied two goals so far in this campaign.
Yet, as McClaren emphasized, talent alone won’t guarantee victory, especially against a Nicaraguan side that has defied expectations with its spirited performances.
“We know we're a very good team, and we know to be a very good team you have to be consistent and that's what we're hoping to achieve. We didn't beat Cuba, so we were inconsistent in that game; we had a good game against Honduras and we anticipate that this is going to be a very difficult game,” McClaren reasoned.
“I've told the players already, Nicaragua are a good team and, at home, a strong team. But we have no excuses, we must produce our quality, and that's why I'm here. The talent within the squad is so good; the potential is so big, and we have to realise it. Along the journey, there's going to be a lot of tests and tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be a big test for the team,” he noted.
Still, Nicaragua’s defence will face its toughest test yet against the Reggae Boyz front line, which features the likes of West Ham United’s Michail Antonio and former Everton man Demarai Gray, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia. Both players are capable of turning a game in an instant, but breaking down a compact and organized Nicaragua will require patience and precision.
McClaren’s approach is likely to be a blend of assertive attacking play and controlled buildup, with midfielders such as Leicester City’s Bobby Reid and possibly Tyreek Magee pulling the strings.
“But again, sometimes the surface has an effect on the game, but with the quality of players that we have and how focused we are going into this game, we have no excuses and we're just going to go in... it's a cup tie, and so it's going to be very difficult. So we just have to focus on the task at hand and not worry about the obstacles ahead,” the tactician declared.
Defensively, Damion Lowe, whose leadership and experience have been invaluable, and his partners will need to be on high alert to contain any counterattacking threats.
Like McClaren, he too is confident that with efficient execution, they should secure the win.
“I think we prepared well. The gaffer has, you know, put the game plan on the board and we just have to follow the instructions. I can't give too much away because then we would be giving you the game plan. But just know that the guys are excited, we're focused, and we're ready for the task at hand. Fully prepared, and we're going there to get three points,” Lowe stated.