Valverde assures that Zidane likes his football

"I'm happy, I try to make the most of every moment without thinking it's a test. I have a lot of prospects of staying. Zidane always tells me to try to enjoy when it's my turn to play, to enjoy because he knows my potential and likes the kind of player I am, to keep demonstrating," he said in an interview with Uruguay's 'Sport 890'.

Valverde is proud that "a person who won so much as a player and as a coach" shows him the faith he has in him. "He motivates me a lot, I'm happy to know that I have his confidence. And he plays without thinking about the changes in the squad that Real Madrid will make for next season.

"There are many players who will come next year and many who leave, but he tells me personally to try to enjoy the moment because he knows what I can give, that I'm playing well but I can give much more. It gives a young player a lot of motivation and confidence," he confessed.

The midfielder lamented Madrid's woeful season. "It wasn't a year like we all expected, we just won the Club World Cup and lost more than we won. The nervousness is noticeable from the team, they are more aware of the players who will come next year, but we focus on the two remaining games to represent the badge as well as possible. You have to show people character and respect.

And far from criticizing Barcelona's image after being eliminated from the Champions League by Liverpool, he remembered what happened to Real Madrid. "I'm the least qualified to talk about it. We had good results against Barça and Ajax in the Champions League and lost both.

"After winning 3-0, losing 4-0 hurts more, but in the end is to lose and you're out the same, whatever the result," he said.

Valverde thanked the support inside the dressing room of the Brazilian Casemiro. "A lot of people support me, but Casemiro sits next to me and he's one of those who helped me the most and the South American relationship is a plus. And although he's satisfied with his performance, he's set himself new challenges.

"You don't have to get bigger because you can't be satisfied with the games I play well, you always have to look for more challenges. If more players come, I will have more challenges to fight for to put more claw and commitment, to have more minutes ahead of certain stars from which I always try to learn," he said.

Finally, he showed his enthusiasm to play the Copa America with Uruguay and take away the bad taste from last year's World Cup: "Wearing the shirt of the national team is the best. I take it as a revenge because it hurt me a lot to stay out of the World Cup, but I'm always positive and this year I played more, I have not been injured and I feel good to go."