Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo needed a rest after substituting him during derby match against Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the Madrid derby, smartly converting Gareth Bale’s cross with a volley from close-range after 53 minutes – but ten minutes later, after Antoine Griezmann’s equaliser, he was replaced by Karim Benzema.
A pin drop could be heard inside the Bernabeu when Ronaldo’s No 7 flashed up on the fourth official’s board as supporters struggled to process what was happening before belatedly breaking out into applause.
Ronaldo did not appear happy at the decision and was seen mouthing something in Zidane’s direction a few minutes later.
Speaking post-match, Zidane said: “Cristiano is Cristiano, he has been this player all his life, scoring 50 goals a season. It is true that there is nobody else who does that.
“It was just [to rest]. We have many games, that’s it. Sometimes he needs to rest. These days he needs that. He feels better every day, you can see it.”
With Barcelona 10 points clear at the top in La Liga and a place in the top four virtually sewn up, Zidane’s decision to give Ronaldo a break was perhaps understandable.
Real have a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Juventus to come on Wednesday, although they hold a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg.
Following a slow start to the campaign, Ronaldo has rediscovered his most devastating form in recent weeks, scoring 24 goals in his last 12 games in all competitions, while his strike against Atletico was the 650th of his career.
Sky Sports