Record-man Ronaldo turns focus on derby
Print Edition
CRISTIANO Ronaldo immediately turned his thoughts to Sunday’s La Liga derby at Atletico Madrid after his Champions League double on Wednesday drew him level with Raul as Real Madrid’s all-time leading marksman on 323 goals.
Ronaldo, who scored twice in the 2-0 Group A success at Malmo, has needed a mere 308 matches across seven seasons to equal Raul’s tally, amassed in 741 games over 16 years, and can break the record in the clash at the Calderon.
The Portugal captain, who took his career total for club and country to 501, told reporters Raul had sent him a congratulatory message urging him to “score 300 more”.
“I am so happy and proud to beat the record for Real Madrid, it’s fantastic,” Ronaldo said.
“The most important thing is to win. Six points, we are top of the group.”
He then reacted tetchily to questions about why he has largely refused to talk to the media in recent months and quashed suggestions he might leave Real in the short term, possibly to return to former club Manchester United.
“My future is at Madrid,” the 30-year-old said.
“I want to win things here and I feel good,” he added. “But as I have said a million times nobody knows the future. We will see what happens.”
Real was knocked off top spot in La Liga after it was held to a 0-0 draw at home to Malaga last weekend and is third on 14 points, level with Celta Vigo and two ahead of Atletico. Atletico incidentally surrendered the lead and was beaten 1-2 at home to Benfica in Champions League Group C on Wednesday.
Villarreal, which plays at Levante on Sunday, is the surprise leader on 16 points, one ahead of second-placed champion Barcelona, which plays at Europa League holder Sevilla tomorrow.
Sevilla also ended up on the losing side on Wednesday, falling 0-2 at Juventus in their Champions League Group D clash.
“It’s going to be tough,” Ronaldo said of the game at the Calderon, where Real was thumped 0-4 in La Liga last term.
“Atletico play very well and are full of confidence,” he added. “We are also in good shape and important players are coming back (from injury).”
Real coach Rafael Benitez is waiting on the fitness of several key men, including Wales winger Gareth Bale, Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez and Spain center back Sergio Ramos.
On Wednesday, well-shackled most of the time by the dogged Malmo defense, Ronaldo only sporadically lit up the Swedish night with his brilliance — netted his 81st and 82nd Champions League goals. Thankfully for Real it was enough to secure all three points and take it to the top of Group A.
“It says something about how good he is,” said Malmo defender Anton Tinnerholm, who had most of the responsibility for marking Ronaldo.
“Even when he has a bad day, he can still decide games.”
Benitez did not want to be drawn into the debate about who is the greatest goalscorer in Real’s history, but Ronaldo’s speed in catching Raul’s mark leaves little doubt.
“That’s a question for others to answer, but I’m very happy that the team won, that we kept a clean sheet, that we took three points, that Ronaldo scored two goals and (equalled) a record,” the Spaniard told a news conference. “We have seen many great goalscorers in history but he managed to do it in less games.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
