la Máquina - Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is confident about Real Madrid's chances of securing Champions League glory and, despite the odds, is holding onto hopes for 'la Liga' until the bitter end.

The Lisbon final: "We are up against a great team in the final. Finals are always 50/50, and we know that we are facing a very strong team. We're hoping to have a great night and to win".

"Atlético are a fantastic team, they are top of the league and that says a lot. It's brilliant to have two Spanish teams in the final, it shows how strong the Spanish league is - with Sevilla in the final of the Europa League too".

Champions League goal record: "The goal record is good, I beat it but now that's done and dusted. I want to score more goals each year. I'm proud of it. I want to score in the final but I don't mind if it's one of my teammates that does it, because what I want is to win. I'm confident we'll win the final."

La Liga: "Nothing is impossible. We're going to keep on fighting for 'la Liga' and, we've also already won the Copa del Rey. If you had told me I'd be in the position I am at the start of the season, I would have been more than happy".

The World Cup: "They are all favourites in my opinion. For me, Spain and Brazil are the overall favourites, but it's a competition between all the strongest teams in the world".

http://www.marca.com/2014/05/09/en/football/real_madrid/1399647423.html

PortuGOAL: People always say how hard Ronaldo works and in interviews in the Wednesday programme, the other players always say the same about you...

José Semedo: He’s blessed by God with his talent which is not common in many players but he combines that with professionalism every single day. Me and him, at 13-years-old, we were not allowed to go to the gym and just before midnight we would jump down the stairs and sneak into the gym and we had to hide from the security guy. Afterwards, we would come in and our arms were a little bit pumped and we had to hide our arms under our shirts and say, ‘Oh it’s so cold outside’!

Always, me and him did one v one at about ten o’clock at night and he put weights on his leg because I’m more defensive. We were training a lot, me and him. He’s so determined to be the best; to have perfection. Since he was 10, he had to do everything perfectly; pass perfectly, shoot perfectly, work on his left foot. Everything in his football has to be perfect.

He’s a human being because he plays like us but if someone believes in God, or creation, this guy has to be one; there are not many human beings like him in the world. He could easily sit and relax but he wants to be recognised as the number one; every year it makes him get better and better. He didn’t give up; Messi won the Ballon d’Or for four years but he wants to get the Ballon d’Or and be number one and that’s what makes him special.

PortuGOAL: His performance in the World Cup qualifier against Sweden was incredible.

José Semedo: Yes. When I judge Portugal at the World Cup, the majority of the players weren’t in good form. Ronaldo was injured; he wasn’t 100%. When Ronaldo is 100% is when Portugal make a difference. In the past we had Figo, Rui Costa, Deco, Costinha, Maniche all in the same team. If one of them doesn’t score, the other can; if it’s not Figo, it’s Pauleta. Today it’s only Ronaldo.

RealGunner wrote:I am more curious about that boner they gave him in the statue

Jack Daniels wrote:

RealGunner wrote:I am more curious about that boner they gave him in the statue

lmao

sportsczy wrote:He's a legend... where you rank legends is a question of personal taste imo. The thing that will erode his status in terms of where he stands in Madrid will be... his lack of humility and class. Di Stefano was all class on and off the pitch. So were some of the others. CR doesn't really endear himself off the pitch other than to teenage girls.