Ahead of Real Madrids Champions League clash with familiar foe Borussia Dortmund, a lot of attention has landed on the boos directed at Cristiano Ronaldo during Los Blancos 5-0 La Liga victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. A section of the Bernabeu support jeered the Portugal captain late in the game when he decided to go it alone rather than square for unmarked teammate Alvaro Morata, prompting the re-emergence of the age-old debate surrounding the Real Madrid goal machine: Is Ronaldo a selfish player? The in-a-nutshell answer is yes, but who among the greatest players ever to grace the game wasnt? You dont bang in 246 goals in 239 games by knocking the ball sideways every time it comes to you. Players without the talents of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi -- especially those whose job description is to score goals -- are always more likely to take a crack if the chance arises than lay it off to a teammate, however good that teammates position might be. (Its rare to find Peter Odemwingie mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldo, but a case in point on this subject.) Messi has developed a bit of a reputation as a prima donna himself at Barcelona, largely because of the text message that reportedly ended Zlatan Ibrahimovics brief Camp Nou career, but also through on-pitch spats with teammates, particularly the departed David Villa, who wasnt signed because of his passing statistics. Do Barcelona fans care? The Swedish Ferrari was scrapped, but Barcas little run-around has taken the club where it wanted to go. So why would Real fans jeer Ronaldo with the side 4-0 up, with about a quarter of an hour on the clock, for trying his luck rather than passing? Possibly because the player to whom he didnt pass is a favourite in the stands and hasnt seen much playing time this season. The cheer when Morata curled home a beautiful strike minutes later was the biggest of the night. Equally, Real fans like to have a moan and will direct their discontent at anyone they see fit -- then cheer them to the rafters five minutes later. Keeper Diego Lopez was also booed, largely for not being Iker Casillas, but few complain when Lopez claws out a goal-bound shot. The caprice of the Bernabeu knows few bounds. There was a team ethic; there was no I in Sir Alex Fergusons team. It was team before everything else. It was we before me. That was what was driven into us,” former Manchester United and England defender Phil Neville noted in a BBC interview last year. “When we were in the youth team, if you could pass to someone who was in a better position to score a goal, even if you were on a hat trick, you had to pass that ball. It was not about personal glory. The minute you started thinking for yourself, being a little bit selfish, you would be out of the door. We have seen that over the years. Ronaldo has always enjoyed a shot at goal, and when he arrived at Real Madrid he was no different. But his tendency to attempt long-range belters at every opportunity has been reined in, and he has undoubtedly become more of a team player during his evolution at Real, as his 16 assists this campaign show. But an individualist will always be so. Few coaches ever bothered trying to get Maradona to pass the ball, and why would they? The 1986 World Cup was won pretty much single-handedly (pun intended) by the great Argentine. Ronaldos Champions League statistics this season are staggering: 13 goals and four assists in 640 minutes. If Ronaldo leads Real to La Decima, will anybody remember the night he didnt pass the ball to Morata? Unlikely. That quest for Reals 10th European triumph continues Wednesday night against Dortmund, a side that Real played four times in the competition last season and failed to beat until a 2-0 win in the Bernabeu at the semifinal stage that counted for nothing: Dortmund had already hammered Real 4-1 at home to shatter another European dream. But on this occasion, Real hold key advantages over Juergen Klopps side. No team left in the competition has scored more goals than Real; no side has conceded more than Dortmund. Robert Lewandowski -- the scorer of all four of those strikes in the Westfalenstadion and Dortmunds leading marksman this season -- is suspended. Dortmund also have an extremely debilitating injury list: Of the team that bested Real over two legs last year, few will be on the field at the Bernabeu. Klopp is without Ilkay Gundogan, Marcel Schmelzer, Lars Bender, Neven Subotic and Kuba Blaszczykowski. Dortmund are missing Lewandowski, which is a big loss for them. They are a compact team and have excellent transitions in their play. They have injuries but won’t change their style,” said Real manager Carlo Ancelotti in Tuesdays news conference. I admire their coach a lot. He has done a fantastic job there. He got to the final of the Champions League last season, which is a big objective for any coach. Real have few injury worries of their own, but have lost Marcelo to a hamstring injury. Fabio Coentrao will deputise, as he did to good effect against Rayo in breaking down several attacks and getting forward in support. Other than at left-back, there are likely to be no changes to Ancelottis preferred starting XI, other than the return of Casillas in goal and Luka Modric (who missed the Rayo match through illness) replacing Asier Illarramendi in midfield. Dortmunds notable absentee list makes Real a natural favourite to win the first leg at home. Lewandowski will be available for the return fixture, and home advantage for a second leg is always viewed by players and coaches as a distinct boost. Real will try to settle this tie in 90 minutes, much as Dortmund did last year. Ancelotti has called on the Bernabeu to roar its side to victory, and there is little doubt that the emotion of a European night will bring out the best in the home support. That will, in turn, aid Ronaldo, who was not pleased by the reception he received Saturday. On Wednesday, exasperation will turn to adulation if Ronaldo adds to his Champions League tally for the season, and it would take a bold punter to bet against him doing just thattt
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:05:37 +0000
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