Cristiano Ronaldo A Doubt For Clash With Tottenham After Suffering Hamstring Injury

A hamstring injury will see Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined for up to three weeks, the club confirmed in a statement on Sunday.

A note on the club's official website reads:

"After a medical control and scan at the Sanitas hospital, Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering from a first-grade lesion to the hamstring in his left leg. The player will be out for three weeks."

The injury blow means Ronaldo will miss Portugal's friendly games against Chile and Finland, and he is also likely to be absent from Madrid's game against Sporting in two weeks time.

But more worryingly for coach Jose Mourinho, the former Manchester United man could find himself out of contention for the first-leg of their Champions League clash against Tottenham on April 5.

Cristiano Ronaldo Could Return For Champions League Clash Against Lyon

Cristiano Ronaldo could return to action for Real Madrid in next week's Champions League clash against Lyon, but coach Jose Mourinho won't risk him unless he is 100 per cent fit, reports from Spain suggest.

The Portuguese pulled his left hamstring after scoring a hat-trick against Malaga a week ago, and club medics claimed he would need at least 10 to 15 days to recover before he could be considered for selection.

However, Marca claims Ronaldo's recovery is progressing well, so much so he could even be included in the squad to face Hercules this weekend, but an appearance is far from certain.

Mourinho is likely to nurse the former Manchester United forward until he is certain he will be able to play without suffering a relapse.

The hope in the Spanish capital is to get him back for the game against Lyon, with the tie finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg.

Mesut Oezil Will Set The Standard At Real Madrid - Jorge Valdano

Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano believes star midfielder Mesut Oezil will set a high standard for the club over the next decade after his strong performance against Racing Santander on Sunday evening.

Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano believes star midfielder Mesut Oezil will "set the standard for the next decade" at the club after his superb performance agianst Racing Santander on Sunday evening.

Valdano admits coach Jose Mourinho has lots of player options he can use instead of relying on the injured Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We deserved a larger lead in the first half and in the second we did what we had to," the director tolf the club's official website after the match. "We had the match under control at all times.

"Despite the absences, we proved we have plenty of resources and the coach has a lot of options to work with.

"[Karim] Benzema has exquisite clarity. He is young and maturing. We knew there was a great player inside Benzema and it is coming out.

"Oezil is going to set the standard for the next decade at Real Madrid. He is the kind of player that Madrid loves. He even makes his opponents have fun.

"Kaka needs to be fit to show what he is capable of. He is an extraordinary player. A world superstar is always mentally strong," he concluded.
 

No Cristiano Ronaldo, No Kaka For Real Madrid - The Alternatives Available For Jose Mourinho's Squad

Jose Mourinho's press conference on Saturday told most Madridistas what they had already known - playmaker Kaka still isn't fully fit following his knee injury during the summer.

The Brazilian has toiled to recapture his best form following surgery after the World Cup, and his Portuguese coach expressed his desire to keep the 28-year-old under wraps until he is able to produce his very best for Los Blancos.

With Cristiano Ronaldo carrying a hamstring problem that will seem him miss the next two league matches, Mourinho has a slight selection dilemma in the centre of the pitch, and given the fact he has so often utilised his preferred starting eleven, the fringe players may finally be given a chance to prove their worth.

The Alternatives
Pedro Leon was simply fantastic for Getafe last season, driving the unfashionable capital club towards European football, prompting Madrid to bid €10 million for his services during the summer.

The transfer has not proved beneficial to either club or player, however, with the 24-year-old on the periphery of the first-team, and limited to substitute cameos. He was a victim of Mourinho's ruthlessness after failing to execute his instructions in the 0-0 defeat to Levante in September, and has toiled to re-establish his status. On his day, Leon can be a fantastic asset to any team, with superb crossing ability and the penchant for spectacular goals, and although he has rarely been able to showcase his ability during his short spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, but now could be his opportunity.

Sergio Canales meanwhile emerged from the wilderness in the midweek rout of Malaga, and he is a player of unquestionable quality. His starring role for a poor Racing team last season cannot be underestimated, and while his dream switch has not materialised in respect of first-team action, he has rarely been given the chance.

The 20-year-old remains one of the sparkling talents to emerge from Spanish football in recent times, and if Mourinho has faith in his ability to produce for the Merengues, now would be the ideal time to allow him to shine, in a supporting striker role, with Mesut Oezil perhaps shifted wide in order to accommodate him.

Mourinho may instead opt for the industry and drive of Esteban Granero, who has also been limited to brief appearances this season in the absence of key players. Granero has never let the side down, neither now nor last season when playing under Manuel Pellegrini.

His most impressive moment of the campaign was his stunning equaliser in Almeria that earned his side a point, and his introduction in that particular match turned the tide in Madrid's favour. He has rarely been able to play in his preferred position behind a striker, and this could well be his chance to shine in the position that he excelled in with Getafe.

Change Of Formation
Mourinho has used a 4-2-3-1 formation for much of the season, with Ronaldo operating from the left flank, but his absence may trigger a possible plan B, where a change in philosophy is considered.

A 4-3-3 has been toyed with earlier in the campaign, with Xabi Alonso, Lassana Diarra, Sami Khedira and Fernando Gago options for the midfield roles, while a player with the inherent finesse of Oezil could easily be effective in a temporary wide-left role.

While such a set-up has been honed to incredible effect by rivals Barcelona, if Madrid were to use such a system, it may however appear more defensive given the mentalities of the midfield quartet at the club's disposal. If a change in tactics is employed, Mourinho may prefer to employ a conventional 4-4-2, meaning...

Striking Duo
The arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor during the January transfer window bolstered the attacking options open to Mourinho, and the Portuguese has opted for an either/or approach to the deployment of the African or Karim Benzema, whose form remains inconsistent.

However, with his options in the final third limited, a dual strike force may be something that he would consider, foregoing the playmaker role by dropping Di Maria and Oezil into right and left midfield respectively.

With Ronaldo missing for at least the matches against Racing on Sunday night and Hercules next weekend, two fixtures they would be expected to win (and simply must win in order to maintain title aspirations), experimenting with both strikers would be a refreshing alternative, and give the team a different attacking dimension.

While Madrid have become accustomed to performing without Kaka under Jose Mourinho, Ronaldo has yet to miss a league game, so his removal from the team against the Verdiblancos at El Sardinero represents a challenge that Los Blancos have not yet faced this season. It will be intriguing to witness the capital giants without their talismanic goalscorer - and what is done to combat the chasm left by his influence.Source : Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo Is A Decisive Player For Real Madrid - Racing Santander Coach Marcelino

Ahead of Racing Santander's clash with Real Madrid, coach Marcelino said that the injured Cristiano Ronaldo is a key figure for los Blancos.

 

Racing Santander coach Marcelino admitted that it would be advantageous for his side that they would not have to face Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Real Madrid this evening.

Ronaldo, whom he described as a decisive player for los Merengues, has a hamstring injury.

"No one player is bigger than Real Madrid but the statistics show that Ronaldo is a decisive player. Of course, it's to our advantage tht he isn't playing," he told the pre-match press conference.

The 45-year old, who took over in February for a second spell in charge, has two wins and two draws from his four games in charge in Cantabria and is confident ahead of the showdown with Jose Mourinho's men:

"You have to make it an uncomfortable match for them and not allow them to showcase their many strengths.

"We look forward to a good game and we have the ability to get a result. I think the team has a chance with the support of our fans."

Los Racinguistas are in twelfth spot with 30 points, five clear of Sporting Gijon who occupy the first of the three relegation places. 

Source : www.goal.com

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho Determined Not To Rush Kaka's Return

Mourinho affirmed that Kaka would not be rushed back from a lengthy lay-off, while bemoaning the injury to Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho insisted that he would only reintroduce Kaka into the first team when the Brazilian was 100% ready, and admitted that he would miss the presence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo.

The trainer held a press conference this Saturday ahead of the Merengues clash against Racing Santander tomorrow evening, following a dominant 7-0 win against Malaga midweek. Playmaker Kaka did not feature against Manuel Pellegrini's team, but 'The Special One' affirmed that he would return when he was in an optimal condition to play.

"Ask our medical team, the best thing for the self-esteem of a player and his confidence is to return when he is convinced that he is absolutely perfect," Mourinho told a reporter who enquired over Kaka's absence. 

Mourinho was similarly caustic when questioned over the team's problems in scoring goals away from the Bernabeu.

"According to you [to the questioning reporter] we do not attack well. You have said in your newspaper that we don't do attack training and we don't know how to train for that. You have written that I tell my players to do whatever they feel like on the pitch."

The joy of the Malaga thrashing was tempered by the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be on the sidelines for up to two weeks due to a hamstring problem. Mourinho made no attempt to disguise the fact that his team would find it difficult without their top scorer.

"[Cristiano's absence] is extremely important. We will not be hypocrites, but we have a great players who will be motivated to step up," the Portuguese coach stated, before hitting out at suggestions he should have rested his compatriot before the injury occurred.

"[Fernando] Gago got injured in training, [Alvaro] Arbeloa injured himself at home and Cristiano got injured playing and marking. In football you get injured when it is your time to get injured. Gago wasn't playing much and he was ruled out."

Real Madrid 7-0 Malaga

Seven goals from los Blancos ensured that Pellegrini's return to the Bernabeu was one to forget.

 

A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick help Madrid to an emphatic 7-0 victory over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Further Goals from Karim Benzema (2), Angel Di Maria and Marcelo completed the scoring for los Blancos against a weakened Malaga side.

Madrid made the break through just before the half-hour mark through Benzema. Alonso sent in a wonderful free-kick that the Frenchmen turned home with a great first-time finish.

The France striker had been kept onside by Manu Torres, whose team-mates had stepped up highlighting the Boquerones’ defensive frailties.
Los Blancos came within the width of the post of doubling their lead as Mesut Oezil’s free-kick cannoned off the upright. In the aftermath, Benzema tucked the ball into an empty net but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Real Madrid scored their second goal when Marcelo’s pass found its way though to Di Maria whose precise finish into the bottom corner doubled los Blancos’ lead.

Welington thought he had reduced the deficit after getting on the end of Eliseu’s free-kick, only for the whistle to blow for either the offside or the fact that he used his hand to apply the finishing touch.
The game ceased being a contest when Marcelo fired home from an acute angle just before half-time. Di Maria played a delightful chipped pass to the Brazilian's feet who crashed a shot on the half volley into the opposite corner to extend his side’s lead.

Ronaldo lead the attack in the second half, he cut in from the right touchline, touched the ball one way and ran the other before unleashing a low drive which Willy palmed around the post.
The famous No. 7 opened the second-half scoring moments later after Oezil’s good work. The German international helped the ball onto Ronaldo whose first touch took the ball away from the defender and his second past an onrushing goalkeeper.

Within Madrid’s dominance, Malaga did manage a clear site of goal when the ball fell to substitute Sebastian Fernandez but he dragged his shot well wide of Iker Casillas’ goal.
Madrid scored their fifth goal just after the hour mark when Benzema headed home Marcelo’s inviting cross for his second goal of the evening.

To intensify the misery to Malaga, Manolo received his second yellow card after handling in the penalty area, resulting in his side having to play the remainder of the second half with ten men.
Ronaldo made no mistake from the penalty kick powering the ball into the top corner to score his 26^th goal of the season.
The 27^th goal came soon after when Canales refused to give up the chance, the young Spaniard fired a low cross toward the near post that Ronaldo flicked on to secure his hat-tick.

With Malaga down to nine-men due to an injury to Cala; Ronaldo also trotted off the field to the relief of his opponents after completing his hat-trick, seemingly picking up an injury.

The game reached a conclusion without any further drama, as Madrid closed the gap on Barcelona to seven points at the top of the table.
Malaga remain deep in relegation with tonight's result, but Manuel Pelligrini will look to the match against Osasuna this weekend as a chance for his side to lift themselves out of the drop zone.