Real Madrid will be facing Atletico Madrid at home today without two of their most expensive players Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard.
Hazard only returned to training this week for the first time since suffering from his ankle injury against Paris St Germain on Nov, but Zidane will not take risks on the Belgian, especially for this game.
Meanwhile Bale has trained all week after recovering from a slight ankle injury but he remain out of the squad.
In reality, without Bale and Hazard, Real still deliver the result.
They are unbeaten since October and have won six of their last seven games, their only draw being in the Super Cup final against Atletico which they won on penalties.
“There are many reasons behind it but I would highlight how hard we have worked and the belief we have in what we are doing,” Zidane told a news conference ahead of the derby.
“We have another game and we’re going to have to prove ourselves once again.”
Real are top of La Liga with 46 points from 21 games, three ahead of Barcelona, while Atletico are fifth on 36 points.
Compared to their rivals, Atletico aren’t doing so well at the moment as they endure one of the most difficult season under Diego Simeone.
They are winless in their last four games in all competitions, including embarrassing Copa del Rey exit to Cultural Leonesa.
“I don’t understand the criticism, I know how he is as a coach, he is one of the best,” said Zidane.
“I said recently that Pep Guardiola is the best coach around and Simeone is among the best. Atletico’s recent results have not changed my opinion of him.”
Simeone can only thanked Zidane for his unusual backing.
“It’s nice when a colleague of Zidane’s calibre says something like that and I’ll return the compliment,” he said.
“He is the ideal coach for Real Madrid, he has got them back into the same state which he left them in.
“Real’s defence has grown a lot this season and it is one of their strong points but they also have a lot of options in attack. Whoever dominates the smallest details will have a very good chance of winning.”