Zinedine Zidane lamented a “f**** up” situation for Real Madrid after the reigning Spanish and European champions stumbled to a shock defeat to Villarreal.

Real fell 19 points behind leaders Barcelona and will be closer to the relegation than they are top spot should the Catalan giants beat Real Sociedad after Pablo Fornals’ classy 87th minute winner at the Bernabeu.

Los Blancos are down to fourth – Saturday’s visitors now just a point behind in fifth – and Zidane’s side have just one win in their past five games.

“It’s very difficult for the confidence,” said head coach Zidane, who guided Madrid to UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana and Club World Cup glory earlier in the season.

“We had chances to score but in the end… we couldn’t avoid the counter and… it’s just very f****** up for all the players.

“What we have to do is keep working, because there will come a time and we have to be there.

“Within all the negative things that are happening to us, we are going to look for something positive.”

Madrid have a quick turnaround with a midweek first leg Copa del Rey quarter-final tie against Leganes before returning to league action next weekend against Deportivo La Coruna.

“We have to get a win from somewhere,” the under-fire Frenchman added.

“We know the situation and every day it gets more complicated, so we are not even thinking about the League, just about the next match.”