Fresh from scoring a hat-trick in the 6-0 dismantling of Espanyol, Cristiano Ronaldo was quick to praise the methods and tactics of new Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. The Portuguese forward who was rumoured to be unsatisfied with the way Benitez handled things at Madrid has expressed faith and belief that Zidane’s methods have been much better for the team than those employed earlier in the season.
Speaking to Canal Plus after the final whistle, Ronaldo said that the Frenchman had been putting the Madrid team through the paces in recent weeks, and all the hard work was definitely paying off for both him and the team with Madrid putting up some superb attacking performances after the legendary Frenchman has taken over
"The team is working very well," Ronaldo said. "Zizou has done phenomenal work, we feel better, fitter. You can see the results on the pitch, we won well. It has been a positive month. We needed it as the preseason was not very good, a lot of travelling. Zizou has a different idea of work, and it is better for the players. We must continue like this."
Zidane has settled well in the initial weeks and he will be hoping that the team performs similarly when they face tougher challenges.
Ronaldo goes joint top with Suarez on the list of top scorers in La Liga
The Portuguese captain moved to 19 goals for the season with an early penalty, a superb left-footed strike and a late diving header to go on top of the Pichichi standings along with Luis Suarez. Ronaldo has been particularly severe on Espanyol this season scoring eight of his 19 La Liga goals against them with his hat-trick on Sunday breaking a host of records.
"I am very happy, another hat-trick," Ronaldo said. "But the most important is the team to keep going, keep playing well, and goals come naturally. In my opinion, there are no weaker opponents. It goes well, when you are intense, and play well."
The impressive result still left Real Madrid behind both table toppers Barcelona and cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid. However, Ronaldo has not given up on the La Liga title urging his team-mates to focus on their own games rather than those of Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
"We must continue like this," he said. "We must not think about Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. They are doing well, winning, but we must keep working. A lot of La Liga is still to go. We know we are a bit back, but accounts are done at the end of the season."
