Big decision for Madrid's Zidane ahead of Cup quarterfinal

MADIRD, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has a difficult decision to make ahead of his side's King's Cup quarter-final away leg against Leganes on Thursday night.

Madrid go into the match following a painful home defeat to Villarreal which has ended their chances of retaining the Liga Santander title and with Zidane increasingly questioned for his tactics, training and team selection.

The side is struggling for goals with Cristiano Ronaldo below his best and rumored to be seeking an exit because the club is unwilling to improve his current contract.

Zidane has fielded sides made up of mainly fringe players in the last two rounds of the Cup, but it is fair to say the only players who impressed against Fuenlabrada and Numancia were striker Borja Mayoral and winger Lucas Vazquez. Although Madrid have progressed to the last 8 of the competition, they were unable to beat either of their supposedly inferior rivals in the Bernabeu.

The coach must now decide whether to field another side of fringe players, such as Jesus Vallejo and Dani Ceballos, or whether to play his strongest 11, given that the Cup is the only realistic chance Madrid have remaining for domestic silverware this campaign.

His side have until Sunday to recover before their league tie at home to struggling Deportivo la Coruna.

Karim Benzema has recovered from injury and will be able to play some part in the game, and Real Madrid also have a big advantage given that their last game was on Saturday, while Leganes had to play their league fixture on Monday night leaving them little time to recover for perhaps the biggest game in their history.

To add to manager Asier Garitano's frustrations, defender Mauro dos Santos was injured on Monday and will not be able to play.

Leganes will look to make life hard for Madrid and increase the pressure on a side and a coach who at the moment are very much under scrutiny. Enditem