Paris: Injury-plagued French star Zinedine Zidane expressed delight on Friday on his current form which he believes will reap benefits not only for Real Madrid in their quest for the Spanish league title but also for France at the World Cup.
The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year has come back strongly from a groin injury scoring a hat trick two weeks ago against Sevilla.
"I feel good, good, good," said Zidane.
"For the past four or five matches we've really seen the best. It's certain that litle by little I'm refinding my form. I'm no longer in pain," he told sports daily L'Equipe.
"I'm happy with what I'm achieving at the moment even if I realise there is still a long way to go."
Real Madrid have 13 points to make up on league leaders Barcelona.
Like Barcelona, fourth-placed Real have been unbeaten since the start of the year and are looking to continue their impressive run at Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The improved form of Zidane since the winter break has been instrumental in Real recapturing the flare that seemed to desert them early in the season.
And the 33-year-old midfielder said that it was a combination of his decision, despite criticism, to take four weeks off in the autumn to recover from a groin injury and the arrival of new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.
"A team needs to count 100 per cent on its players and their abilities when they play. I refuse to play at 50 per cent of my ability. I've now got the right physical fitness and I'm hoping to continue like this. I've been criticised for this it's true. But if people are not happy that's their problem," Zidane said.
"Now we're (Real) playing like a real team. We've found the beautiful game again, we've found the real Real Madrid again. We have to put the last few months behind us. Our new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro has brought in his ideas and we're benefiting from a new lease of life. Everyone is now pulling together," he said
"For the past three years I've repeated that a team plays like it trains. Today we're training good. We're improving in all areas. We have to say to ourselves we're going to win the title this season."
Zidane refused however to be drawn on reports that he intends to retire after the World Cup.
"I'm making the most of this second part of the season with Real and I'm thinking about the World Cup which is coming afterwards. We'll see after the World Cup. I refuse to look beyond that because I want to savour the moment now," added the 1998 World Cup winner.
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