Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has defended Luka Jovic slow start to his Bernabeu career.

Jovic has struggled for minutes since his summer arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Zidane said, "He's not demotivated.

"He's just arrived and he's looking much better now than when he came in. He's slowly learning Spanish and becoming part of the group.

"I will be counting on him and he's important despite the fact he hasn't played much recently."