REAL MADRID COACH Zinedine Zidane lauded Cristiano Ronaldo after the suspended star scored a stunning goal against Fiorentina.
Ronaldo cut into the area from the left before curling a spectacular effort into the top corner in a 2-1 Trofeo Santiago Bernabeu win on Wednesday.
The Portuguese star is banned from competitive domestic action for another three games after being sent off, and then pushing the referee, in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana against Barcelona earlier this month.
Zidane said Ronaldo’s goal against Fiorentina was exactly what the 32-year-old could do, as he praised his team’s performance.
“That’s what this man is capable of, we’re happy to have him here,” the Frenchman told Real Madrid TV.
“We put in a disciplined display and made a good start. I’m happy because the fans came out in their numbers and that was very important for us.
“We achieved what we wanted to, the trophy remains here and we all head home happy.”
Zidane said he was pleased to get the opportunity to give some of his players, Ronaldo among them, much-needed game time.
Madrid have opened their campaign by winning the UEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana and first LaLiga outing.
“We got what we were hoping for, gave those players who hadn’t had much of a chance some minutes and that’s what these games are for,” Zidane said.
“[Dani] Ceballos, Marcos [Llorente], Borja [Mayoral], Cristiano all got some game time.
“Now we have to rest up and tomorrow we’ll start thinking about our LaLiga game against Valencia [on Sunday], which is coming around quickly.”
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Has anyone else noticed how many people are suddenly lobbing keepers?
Better than Rooneys, great strike in fairness
Shelvey will either do something amazing or stupid…. No middle ground.
So true
Nailed it Graham that’s why the Pool let him go
Well be paying 20 mil to get him back in a couple of years Graham.
Should have just loaned him out. Not sold him.
I believe Rodgers gave him the choice….. He would have kept him, but he wanted to go….. And also, maybe a clause in that contract :)
Shay Given would have saved it, should be in goal
Given can’t even get in to the Ireland team..
Wow
Much better goal than Rooney’s. Adrian acted like he had just downed 3 bottles of Buckfast and had a feed of shrooms for Rooney’s goal.
Not as good as chris forrester against drogheda
Keeper might have got it. Given probably would have saved it cos he never comes off his line
Remember Nayim lobbed Seaman from 40 yards….. He was at the butt of some jokes for a long time after that
Till they finally abated, and he resurrected them all again in 2002, letting romaldinho lob him again , then away with the the mixer again . Thanks for the memories David.
I lobbed semen from 50 yards…
Only the wall stopped it?