Ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon, coach Jorge Jesus has heaped praise on Zinedine Zidane. Real Madrid are the current holders of the Champions League crown.
For Ronaldo, it will be a special night, as he returns to his spiritual home, the first club he ever played for. His team are tipped as one of the favourites for this season’s Champions League as well.
Zidane has done a fantastic job so far with the club. The players seem to respect the French coach and he has changed the feeling around the club after the turbulent period when Rafa Benitez was at the helm.
Jesus believes the club’s strength stems from the confidence and the aura fo the French legend. Speaking to Football Espana he said “With Zidane, this Real Madrid team is stronger," explained the 62-year-old. They are no longer a team of individuals, they are a team.They are a stronger opponent now than at any point over the past few years, but we will play to win.”
The manager has a very good point. The squabbles and the reported tension between players under Mourinho and other previous managers doesn’t seem to exist with Zidane. He has got them working in harmony with each other.
On Saturday after the win, there reports that Zidane had a talk with his team after their 5-2 win in La Liga. He was reportedly upset with the way his players conducted themselves on the field and re-enforced the importance of working together.
Ronaldo raced cars as a kid
In one of his very first interviews when he was at Lisbon, journalist Jaime Cravo spoke with the youngster when he was a budding teenager looking to make it big in the footballing world.
Ronaldo is known for his athleticism and his speed. The journalist explained how the young Portuguese star worked at his roots. I accompanied him from Estadio Jose Alvalade to a hostel in Marques de Pombal in central Lisbon where he lived.”
“In the street by the hostel, cars had to stop at the traffic lights and he ran to see who was the fastest - himself or the car.”
Ronaldo also vowed to one day play for Real Madrid, to his roommate at Lisbon, in the hostel he used to stay. Now he has accomplished that dream and tonight he faces ol club in what will be a special occasion for him.
