Zidane: Cristiano Ronaldo is untouchable because he has earned it

Zidane: Cristiano Ronaldo is untouchable because he has earned it

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Rayo Vallecano and defended the Portuguese' desire to want to play every minute of every game. 

In his pre-game press conference, Zidane revealed that Ronaldo's thigh strain will prevent him playing in Vallecas: "It's nothing seious, but tomorrow [Saturday] he is not going to be able to play [against Rayo]. We will see about Tuesday's game [in the Champions League against Manchester City]." 

The Madrid coach admitted that "we have had to put the brakes on, but Cristiano knows that he can't play against Rayo because he has [a knock]. If tomorrow was the final of the Champions League? I don't think so, because it would be too much of a risk." 

The debate then spilled into the fact players like Ronaldo don't like to miss games and ask that they play every minute: "In one way, it's a problem that he always wants to play, but on the other hand, it's good that someone like him is always ready to go out on the pitch." 

Zidane wanted to settle the debate, adding that "Cristiano Ronaldo is untouchable because he has earned it. Cristiano is untouchable because of what his numbers demonstrate. He deserves to be untouchable. He rests when he doesn't play, but when he plays, he does fucking great." 

Despite all that, Zidane doesn't consider Ronaldo's knock an effect of playing too much football. "I don't see Cristiano exhausted, the injury was an anecdote and is not a problem to do with always wanting to play," he said.

"Cristiano is no different to any other player and for that reason he always wants to play. He doesn't have to rest because he is fine. He always wants to play and his committment is something I value and respect."