Cristiano Ronaldo just can’t catch a break at the minute.
The injured Real Madrid attacker was disappointingly ruled out of the crucial first leg semi-final clash with Manchester City on Tuesday night, a game that cried out, begged and pleaded for somebody to find the back of the net. So when the 31-year-old was sat on the bench before the match, looking out across the plush green turf of the Etihad stadium, picturing himself once again being the hero for Real, he knew that a muscle problem was going to keep him away from the action. We all know that in this moment away from the centre of attention, the Portuguese international wants time to relax, he wants to be a normal person like you or I, he wants to quietly slip into the background, listen to Captain Beefheart on the headphones and have a casual stroll through Instagram – you know, to see what his friends are doing that night. So imagine the disappointment when, just for a second the nightmare of not playing was behind him, Gary bloody Lineker goes and starts posting videos about the injury..
Zinedine Zidane appeared before the media at the Etihad Stadium following the first leg of the Champions League semi-final: “I'm pleased with the game because it wasn't easy. We defended very well and in the second half we had more of the ball and chances to score. I'm a bit disappointed because we deserved more, but we were very good defensively. It was a hard-fought game”. “We could have scored, but getting a goal doesn't guarantee a place in the final. We're halfway through the tie. We've got the next game at home and we know what we're capable of doing at the Bernabéu. We'll have to work like we did today”. Second half “We played higher up, pressured more and above all, had more of the ball. If you've got it, it's difficult for your opponent to defend. We didn't get the goal and it's open going into the second leg. We'll try and play well like today, it's a Champions League semi-final, so it's not easy. I'm pleased with the result and the way everyone worked”.