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Ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night, manager Carlo Ancelotti has said that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is more focused on the game against the Reds at the Santiago Bernabeu than on the goalscoring record he can break.
The 29-year-old is one goal shy of equalling former Los Blancos star Raul’s record of 71 goals in the Champions League and even has a chance to go past him on Tuesday. His rival at Barcelona, Lionel Messi is in third position with 69 goals to his name.
‘Focus is on the game, not on the record’
The former Chelsea boss, however, has said that the current Ballon d’Or holder is focusing on the game and not on the landmark.
“Cristiano is working hard for himself and the side, just like other players.
He [Ronaldo] is not thinking about Raul’s record, he is thinking about the team.He could beat it tomorrow but it won’t be his last Champions League appearance.
He is focused on playing for the team,” the 55-year-old Italian manager said.
I will decide if Bale will play or not: Ancelotti
Ancelotti also confirmed that Wales forward Gareth Bale is fit after suffering a muscle tear that kept him out of action for five games, including the last Champions League fixture at Anfield and the Clasico against Barcelona.
However, he said that that a final decision on his inclusion in the starting XI is yet to be taken.
“The question is whether to deploy a player who is coming back from injury from the start,” Ancelotti said. “I will decide tomorrow.”
Ancelotti defends Mario Balotelli’s poor performances
He also defended Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli by saying that he is a quality player and that he is now part of a team that lacks a heavy goal-scorer like Luiz Suarez.
“Balotelli is spoken of a lot, maybe too much. He has quality and is at a side where they're not playing well having lost [Luis] Suarez, who scored a lot.
“They need another solution, but I don't think all of Liverpool's problems are Balotelli. He needs to do his work for the side, that's all that can be asked of him - and I don't have problem with shirt-changing.” he concluded.
