Monday 24 October 2016 10:02, UK
Zinedine Zidane insists striker Alvaro Morata will get more playing time for Real Madrid after scoring a late winner on Sunday.
Morata again proved decisive from the bench by striking a late goal in the 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao and firing a lacklustre Real Madrid to the top of La Liga.
The Spain international has been afforded limited opportunities in his first season back at Real following two years with Juventus, struggling to usurp first-choice forwards Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Morata has made just four league starts, but has scored four times in all competitions.
"Morata will get more playing time, but we have to be patient," Zidane said at a news conference.
"We have to keep working together and Morata will get minutes like everyone else.
"Morata and Lucas [Vazquez] are doing very well. They always play well when they come on. Both will start games this season, but it is not easy."
Morata was also the hero for Real in last month's Champions League group game with Sporting Lisbon, scoring in the 94th minute to earn a 2-1 win, and also came off the bench to score in Tuesday's 5-1 win over Legia Warsaw.
"I would happily accept scoring every time I came off the bench. I am here to help the team and that's what I'm doing," Morata told Movistar Plus on Sunday.
"It would be very selfish of me to just think about myself. We're a team and I have to accept the coach's decisions. I always want to play but that's not easy to do here."
Despite needing to rely on another late show from Morata, Real coach Zidane said his side had played well against Athletic.
"It will be close at the top all season," he added. "There are no easy games and we will suffer until the end.
"I am very happy that we sit atop the table, but above all I am happy with our performance. We suffered a bit, but that is only normal and we kept fighting right until the very end."
