Real Madrid legend Raul believes former team-mate and Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane will guide the club to a strong finish.
Raul has backed Real Madrid to end a difficult season with “something to shout about” under the coaching of Zinedine Zidane.
Since he succeeded Rafael Benitez at the Bernabeu in January, Zidane’s Real have beaten Deportivo La Coruna 5-0, Sporting Gijon 5-1 and Espanyol 6-0 in addition to victory over Granada and a draw with Real Betis.
That has left them a point behind second-placed Atletico Madrid in the Primera Division and four points off leaders Barcelona.
Barca have a game in hand but Real have still to play both of their title rivals and are also in the last 16 of the Champions League, with their first leg against Roma next Wednesday.
Raul praised his former Real team-mate, telling beIN Sports: “I think that the message Zidane has to offer will get through to the players, because he was a world-class player.
"He’ll go down as one of the best ever because of what he won and how he played and he’ll be able to make the players buy into his message, having inherited a squad brimming with talent."
"He knows what people really want. Why not dream of ending this year with something to shout about?"
"And, failing that, he will have to be given time so that next season all the work he is doing can bear fruit."
Raul is currently working in an ambassadorial role for La Liga in the United States, where he finished his playing career, but is open to the possibility of one day following Zidane into coaching.
He said last month that “there will be a time to return to Real Madrid”, in any role.
And when asked on Wednesday if he could one day coach the Spanish national team, for whom he is second in the all-time goalscoring list and one of 10 players to reach a century of caps, the 38-year-old responded: “Why not?”
Zidane is likely to have to prepare for Saturday’s game against Athletic Bilbao without full-back Marcelo after the club confirmed the Br azil international suffered a dislocated shoulder in Sunday’s 2-1 success against Granada.