Real will rule in 2010, insists defiant Ronaldo
Real Madrid star Ronaldo has played in the Champions League final in the last two seasons, scoring in the 2008 decider to help Manchester United to victory against Chelsea in Moscow before being unable to prevent the Red Devils losing their crown against Barcelona in Rome last May.
Recent seasons have seen Premier League clubs to the fore in the Champions League with Liverpool (twice) and Arsenal on also reaching finals since 2005.
However Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid from United for a world record fee of £80 million (€94m) in the summer led to suggestions that their could be a shift in power from the Premier League to La Liga.
The Portuguese winger clearly agrees and has bullishly predicted that the Spanish giants will emerge as Europe’s greatest side.
However he warned the club not to put too much pressure on Real’s players to win the Champions League at their home ground.
Madrid are determined to snatch back a portion of the limelight after arch-rivals Barcelona won six trophies in 2009.
And, with the Champions League final to be held at the Bernabeu, attention is inevitably on continental success.
“Real Madrid will be the best team of 2010,’’ Ronaldo said. “We need to have the drive and motivation to win everything that comes our way.
“Fans and players dream about winning the Champions League.
“This year’s final is at the Santiago Bernabeu and it’s a great opportunity for us.
“Winning the Champions League was the greatest experience of my career and we don’t want to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.
“All this club talks about is Champions League, Champions League, Champions League, but we shouldn’t because it puts a lot of pressure on the players.
“It is better to continue doing what we are doing, which is winning games.
“Good things will happen, but the players don’t need any added pressure.
“Madrid needs to focus on winning the Champions League and La Liga, but it depends on other factors like luck, the draw...
“But I think we are going to win.”
Another big challenge on the horizon for Ronaldo is the World Cup, where Portugal have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.
He said: “Brazil is an incredible team, but I would like to play Spain because it would mean that we have beaten Brazil and Ivory Coast.
“Spain is one of the favourites to win the World Cup.”
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