Cristiano Ronaldo: Zidane is the Ideal Manager for Real Madrid

Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is eager to continue his relationship with Real Madrid boss and club legend Zinedine Zidane.

(Image credit: Eurosport)

“I think we feel more appreciated under Zidane. We feel his affection,” commented Cristiano Ronaldo on the way the Frenchman connects with his players. “We know he’s in a period of adaptation, but things have come together very quickly and I’m really happy for him.”

The Portuguese winger poured praise on Zidane, highlighting his achievements as a player and the way he’s transformed into a real leader as the boss of Real Madrid. “I always admired him as a player, and now as a coach as well, for how (he) behaves, how he deals with the players. He’s a coach who I would like to see stay at Real Madrid.”

The 10-time Champions League winners recently suffered a shock 2-0 defeat against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals, which left them facing a daunting task of overturning that result in the return-leg at home. Zidane looked for a solution to this great challenge, and he once again found it in Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick against the Germans that saw them qualify for the semi-finals.

“It was perhaps one of the most important games: we had to win by three goals and I scored all three, so it was a special night,” said the man that has scored three hat-tricks in the competition this season. “It had to be perfect and that’s how it turned out. It wasn’t just because of my goals, I think it was everything. I think the team played very well … and our fans as well, who played a very important role in the comeback. It was a brilliant night, a magical moment.”

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Real Madrid are in the hunt for their 11th Champions League crown, and Cristiano Ronaldo has confessed winning it is the club’s “priority.” Unibet Sports ranks Los Blancos favorites 2.95 (39/20) to win the trophy this year, while their cross–town rivals Atletico Madrid are right behind them with odds of 3.25 (9/4). Third favourites are Bayern Munich 3.50 (5/2), with Man City being strong outsiders 7.50 (13/2), but that may all change if they manage to defeat Real Madrid.

“Obviously, winning it is a priority for Real Madrid. We know we face a difficult challenge but anything is possible,” the Portuguese international said. “If Manchester City have made it to the semifinals, it’s because they’re an excellent team. Knocking out PSG is not an easy task, but they managed to do it. They are a team with very few weaknesses.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored a whopping 16 goals in the Champions League this season, which is only 1 short of the record for most goals scored in one season that he achieved in the 2013-14 campaign. Considering his high goal tally (that can increase on Wednesday night), Unibet Sports no longer accepts bets on him being top goalscorer in this year’s Champions League.

(Image credit: Eurosport)

Instead, you can bet on the following three players the online sportsbook: Robert Lewandowski 1.85 (17/20), Thomas Muller 2.40 (7/5) and Antoine Griezmann 8.00 (7/1). Bayern’s attacking duo each have 8 goals to their name, and they’ll be looking to add a few more when they face Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night.

Frenchman Griezmann has been in scintillating form all season long, finding the back of the net 30 times overall, with 6 coming in Europe’s elite competition. He’s not the prime candidate to be top goalscorer as both the Pole and the German have enjoyed greater success in front of goal.

Bayern Munich are favorites 1.64 (16/25) to win the match against Atletico Madrid 6.15 (51/10), however a draw 3.95 (29/10) with goals is all the Spanish side needs, thanks to away goals. Real Madrid 1.52 (13/25) will face Manchester City 6.75 (23/4) at the Bernabeu, which automatically makes them favorites. Man City are outsiders for the encounter, but just like Atletico’s case, a tie 4.60 (18/5) with goals is enough to see them qualify for the final.

Zidane could potentially join the exclusive “club” of men that have won the Champions League both as a player and manager, if he overcomes Man City and then goes on to win the final at San Siro. Only six men have so far accomplished this feat: Johan Cruyff (PL: 1971, 1972, 1973 / MG: 1992), Giovanni Trapattoni (PL: 1963, 1969 / MG: 1985), Miguel Nunoz (PL: 1956, 1957, 1958 / MG: 1960, 1966), Carlo Ancelotti (PL: 1989, 1990 / MG: 2003, 2007), Pep Guardiola (PL: 1992 / MG: 2009, 2011) and Frank Rijkaard (PL: 1989, 1990, 1995 / MG: 2006).