Zinedine Zidane unhappy with slow start in Real Madrid's defeat at Valencia

Zinedine Zidane said Real Madrid lacked "cleverness" as their slow start cost them in a 2-1 defeat at Valencia on Wednesday.

Simone Zaza, who endured an unhappy loan spell at West Ham earlier this season, gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute with a brilliant shot on the turn, and Fabian Orellana added the second in the ninth.

Cristiano Ronaldo headed Real back into contention just before half-time, but the visitors were unable to build on their momentum after the break.

Real remain top of La Liga on 52 points, one ahead of Barcelona and three clear of Sevilla in third, and still have one game in hand on both of their title rivals.

"The truth is we lost the game in 10 minutes," Zidane said after the match.

"We started well with the ball, we had chances but we made two errors and they scored two goals. We had 80 minutes to rescue the game and tried but we lacked many things today.

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"We had the chance to pick up points and we didn't do it. I hope this has no psychological effect on us.

"We need to be more focused in future games because if you don't concentrate, you get punished. In those 10 minutes, we weren't clever or ready.

"Now we have to rest up and think about Sunday's game. We had a chance to put points on the board but we didn't do so. Congratulations to Valencia and attentions now turn to the next game."

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Despite remaining top of the league, Real Madrid did miss the chance to go four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, although they still have a game in hand over their rivals.

"Had we won here, the La Liga title race wouldn't have been all over. Things have now become tougher after we failed to get the three points," he added.

"Valencia were the only team to put points on the board today. We need to bear in mind that we can't win games just by turning up. We're not looking for excuses, we simply have to turn our attentions to the next game."

Left-back Marcelo echoed the thoughts of his manager, lamenting the team's lack of concentration in the opening minutes for their failure to take points from the Mestalla Stadium.

"We started very poorly and there can be no excuses for it, that was our fault," the Brazilian said.

"Two isolated moves in 10 poor minutes turned the game into an uphill battle for us. We're not machines, we're human, any team can get off to a bad start.

"Zaza scored a great goal and then we stupidly lost possession and that put them 2-0 up. That's football and sometimes you're going to lose.

"We did all we could to at least have got a draw, but we conceded two daft goals and we must learn from our mistakes. We still remain top but we have to change things, we can't be starting games like that."

Real's match at Valencia was rearranged after the original fixture was postponed in December due to Zidane's side taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup.