Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has admitted that he "won't be at the club for 10 years" and said that his achievements as a player offer no protection in his current management role.

The comments come following Madrid's poor start to the La Liga campaign, after which the Frenchman's team sit fourth in the table, some 16 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Zidane, who has won two Champions League titles and a league crown while in the Spanish capital, said that he must enjoy his time with Madrid before he leaves the role.

"Zinedine Zidane isn't a player at Real Madrid anymore. That Zidane no longer exists," the 45-year-old told France Football. "Now it's down to Zinedine Zidane the coach to carve out a career. I'm not protected by what I've done as a player at this club.

"I know that one day [the coach's job] will come to an end at Real Madrid, so I make the most of it and I do everything I can to be successful. "I say to myself, 'if I've got 10 days left here, then I'm going to live those 10 days to the max; if it's six months, I'll live those six months to the max'.

"I don't think beyond that. I know I won't stay [in the job] for 10 years."

Madrid face Numancia in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday having already established a 3-0 lead from the first leg.