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Cristiano Ronaldo might have been the standout performer in Real Madrid’s 4-3 Champions League defeat to Schalke but the Portuguese superstar left the Santiago Bernabeu in rage and vowed not to talk to the press before the end of the season. Ronaldo’s brace on the night made him the leading goal scorer in Europe’s club competitions.
Two magnificent headed-goals also took Ronaldo on par with Lionel Messi as the Champions League’s all-time highest scorer- with 75 goals apiece.
However, Madrid’s performance against Robert Di Matteo’s Schalke side meant Ronaldo left the ground with the Bernabeu crowd booing him along with the entire squad. Madrid narrowly managed to progress to the next phase of the competition courtesy of their 2-0 first leg win.
“I won’t talk again until the end of the season,” Ronaldo told reporters before leaving the ground.
Ronaldo was visibly a frustrated character on the night he scored two equalizers and could be seen shouting at his team-mates during the game. Madrid lost despite taking a 3-2 lead before half-time. The performance comes as a warning shot at Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who are set to take on Barcelona in the domestic league in 10 days.
Ancelotti defended Ronaldo and apologized for his team’s display
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti tried to defend his star-man, saying, “He scored two very important goals but the rest were not at his level.”
Ancelotti also apologized for the display and said, “It was bad for the image of the club.
“The reaction of the crowd was totally justifiable but it will serve to wake us up. I still believe in the team because I know what they can give but at the moment they are not giving it. We are playing very badly. We need to train more, work more, we need more of everything.”
Real captain Iker Casillas was, however, more open to talking to the reporters and admitted his team had hit rock bottom but took heart in progressing in the competition.
The Spanish goalkeeper said, “It is true that we have hit rock bottom in a most resounding way, but the positive is that Friday next week we are in the draw and we will forget what has happened these 10 days. Because we have lived through 10 dramatic days."
