Madrid, May 23 (IANS) Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has affirmed the level of play from his Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the season and rejected any insinuations that he was responsible for the team’s failure to take home titles in the current season.
“I’ve lost count of how many goals he has scored this season. He has done his utmost to help the team and you couldn’t ask for any more from his season,” Ancelotti was quoted as saying by Efe on Friday.
The coach dismissed that the physical condition of the team played a major role in losing titles, and noted that the team that won the Champions League last season in worse shape.
He also stressed that he analysed the season and that “it’s possible that we need to make the odd change”.
Ancelotti showed respect to his critics: “Everyone has their own personality and is entitled to have the opinion that they see fit. It doesn’t bother me.”
Regarding claims that team captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas asked to play in Saturday’s La Liga game against Getafe, as it will be his last game, Ancelotti replied: “He didn’t ask me to play. It’s a decision that I made… Iker wants to stay.”
