Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more respect, says Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane
Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more respect, said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday, showing support to the usually prolific Portuguese to recover in the second half of the season from his worst La Liga campaign so far.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has scored two goals in 10 La Liga matches and has been criticized in the media for his performance in Real Madrid's goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, which kept the champions eight points behind the leader, Barcelona.
The 32-year-old player is still favorite to win the Ballon d'Or on Thursday for leading Real Madrid to glory in the Champions League last season, scoring hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and a brace in the 4-1 victory against Juventus in the final.
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If he wins the award, Cristiano Ronaldo will equal Lionel Messi's record of being named the best player in the world five times.
"We have to give more love and respect to Cristiano Ronaldo, but it's the same. He is so great that when things don't go as usual, people talk about him," Zidane said in a press conference on Tuesday before the last group stage match of the Champions League between Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
"People who love him and Real Madrid know what he is doing: he keeps trying until the goals come. Last season he did a phenomenal job. This is long and we are halfway through. There are six months left. Be careful with Cristiano Ronaldo," he added.
Ronaldo has indeed lived up to his level in the Champions League, where he is the top scorer with eight goals in five matches, and he could achieve his sixth consecutive year at the top of the scoring table in the elite European competition.
"He has to win the Ballon d'Or because he had an incredible year," said Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
"The Ballon d'Or is important for him and for us, although what is valuable is that we win titles together as a team," he added.