Zinedine Zidane urges Cristiano Ronaldo to ignore fans

Zinedine Zidane has urged Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to shrug off any criticism from the club’s fans ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Roma.

Ronaldo, and his Madrid team-mates, were subjected to whistles from the baying Bernabeu crowd on Saturday before blowing Celta Vigo away with the Portuguese scoring four in the 7-1 rout.

A week earlier Los Blancos were beaten 1-0 by cross-city rivals Atletico to all but end their hopes of challenging for the Primera Division title.

Real are now 12 points adrift of leaders Barcelona but look well-placed to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, having won the first leg 2-0 in Rome.

Despite being the top scorer in both competitions some Madrid supporters have still called for Ronaldo to be sold, but boss Zidane has told his Portuguese star to ignore the critics.

“I’m not in favour of selling him. I am the coach and I want him,” Zidane said. “They (the fans) whistled at me, at everyone. It’s not a question of any player in particular, it’s the fans who want more from their players and this is better for the players, trying to make them always do their best. The fans really love their players in the end and this is very important. The stadium is always full and this means a lot.”

Toni Kroos, who missed the game against Celta Vigo because of a virus, trained yesterday, as did Luka Modric who has been struggling with an ankle injury. Karim Benzema is still recovering from his hamstring complaint but Gareth Bale could start against the Italians.