Cristiano Ronaldo injury: Real Madrid star's sarcastic response to fitness worry after Barcelona clinch title
Portuguese star cut a frustrated figure after his side missed out on La Liga to Barcelona and dismissed Zinedine Zidane's suggestion he suffered a foot injury during the 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna
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Your support makes all the difference.Cristiano Ronaldo offered a sarcastic response to Real Madrid’s La Liga agony – and rumours he was injured - after he was substituted by manager Zinedine Zidane during the final-daywin over Deportivo La Coruna.
Ronaldo scored twice during the first half, his 50th and 51st goals of the season, but was withdrawn at half-time, with Zidane suggesting the Portuguese had suffered a ‘heavy blow to the foot. Real won 2-0 but missed out on the title by a point thanks to Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Granada.
Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure after the match and, when asked how he was feeling, replied “How am I? Haven’t you seen the match?” According to Spanish newspaper Marca, he then offered a knowing smirk when asked about his fitness.
Zidane initially suggested Ronaldo had suffered a foot injury, though he later played down concerns.
It was a bittersweet day for Ronaldo, who has now scored 50 goals in each of the last six seasons, but, astonishingly, finishes well behind Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, who has found the net 59 times this season.
Ronaldo and Real now turn their attention to the Champions League final against city rivals Atletico on May 28, when Zidane’s side will go for their 11th European Cup.
“We’re a little disappointed after the effort we made but now we’re only thinking about Milan,” Zidane told a news conference after his team finished as runners-up.
“After 38 league games we can’t change the fact Barcelona are champions. They deserved to win the league but I take my hat off to my lads.”
Real's hopes looked dead and buried after losing to Atletico at the end of February and falling 12 points behind Barcelona. However, that defeat sparked their surge of 12 victories in a row.
“We might have had difficult moments but we never gave up and we kept fighting to the end,” Zidane added.
“I’m very proud of everyone in this team, all I can do is give them encouragement. We’re lucky to be playing in the Champions League final and now we have to rest and prepare well for that game.”
The one consolation for Real is the chance of a repeat of the win over their neighbours in the 2014 Champions League final.
“We’ve improved a lot and now we have a final to try and finish the season on a high,” said defender Marcelo. “It’s always difficult to win the league and we made a bad start and were 12 points behind the leaders.”
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