Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane spoke to the media in his post match press conference about Ronaldo’s injury scare and took time to reflect on his side’s 3-0 victory over Villarreal.
Goals from Benzema, Vazquez and Luka Modric saw Zidane’s side breeze past Villarreal, ensuring Los Blancos maintained their one point gap between themselves, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with 4 games to go.
Ronaldo injury scare
Zidane said in his post match press conference (via ESPN) that he was concerned seeing the Portuguese captain leave the pitch early, but has since felt more confident after speaking with him. He said, “Ronaldo felt something just at the end. But at the moment I cannot say anything. I believe it was more a fright than anything serious.” Zidane said that they would find out tomorrow what exactly the problem was with Ronaldo.
He said “Sometimes, for me, today when I see him coming off the pitch, it is difficult. But now we will see, there are important games to come, and we will see when we get him back.”
Ronaldo was on course to become the only player (outfield) to play every single minute of the La Liga season so far, but hopes of that record ended tonight.
Reflecting on the victory
Speaking about his side’s victory, Zidane praised the attitude of his team and was happy with the control his men exercised over the course of the game. Madrid did not give Villarreal even a glimmer of hope to try and create something.
He said “We are remaining what we are doing well, working well, the team today was phenomenal from minute one until the end. We won back many balls, attacked well, created many chances, were almost perfect in defence.”
After Barca’s and Atletico’s respective victories, Real Madrid still remain a point behind the joint league leaders and third in the table, with just four games left in the league season. Zidane sai, “We are just a point back still. We will continue with our football, our idea, what we have been doing. Nothing has changed.”
Title race heating up
Madrid face Manchester City in a week’s time in the Champions League semi final and Rayo Vallecano before that. Barcelona seem to have put their miserable run of form behind them after an 8-0 victory and Atletico will look to keep churning out hard fought victories in any way possible to win back the title from Barcelona. Both the Madrid teams are in the semis of the Champions League and will look to battle it out for the double this season..
