Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane had admitted his side are struggling with a psychological problem amid a run of four consecutive draws. 

Real’s run of three La Liga draws, with the other having taken place in the side’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, has spoiled what had been excellent start by the side, who nevertheless sit joint top of La Liga alongside city rival Atletico Madrid.

The sequence of stalemates, their longest run of draws in over a decade, has nevertheless caused stirrings of unease amid the club and its supporters, prompting striker Alvaro Morata to deny talks of a crisis.

‘Right now, we are having trouble at the start of the matches, but we are looking for a solution,’ Zidane told French radio station RMC. ‘Right now it is complicated. I must fix the problem, but I think the problem is psychological, not physical.’

Zidane was quick to back his underperforming side, who are visibly missing the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not been at his best since returning from the injury he suffered in the Euro 2016 final. Ronaldo was also visibly displeased by his substitution against Las Palmas, a game Los Blancos ended up drawing 2-2.

‘I have talked to the players about the rotations. They are necessary because if you don’t play enough you can’t play well when the team really needs you,’ Zidane commented.

‘Cristiano? It is normal that he gets angry when we take him out, that is good. He wants to play all the time and help the club. That is good, but I don’t think anyone can play 60 matches in one season,’ the coach concluded.

Real are next in action when they take on Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on October 15.

The action gets underway at 20:45.