Isco on Ronaldo: The Real Madrid midfielder talks about Cristiano Ronaldo during the pre-match conference before the UCL fixture against Viktoria Plzen.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer to taste greener pastures and try and dominate another league in another country. The Portugal international left a massive void at Real Madrid that is still to be filled, though Madrid’s players have insisted that they can still cope with things without Cristiano Ronaldo.
They have struggled to score goals and win matches of late and in fact gone five games without a victory. During the spell, they broke an all-time high club record of a barren run in front of goal for 481 minutes before Marcelo struck against Levante. In the interview prior to the Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen, Isco was once again asked about Ronaldo.
Isco on Ronaldo:
The Spanish midfielder insisted that it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Real Madrid, and urged his players and fans that they must move on.
Pointing out that it was Ronaldo’s decision to move on and not the club’s call, he said: “We can’t be crying over someone who didn’t want to be here.”
Isco also offered his public backing to Julen Lopetegui whose job is under scrutiny and agreed with Sergio Ramos that it would be a “crazy” decision if the 52-year-old was sacked this early on in the season.
“It would be crazy. We have to let him work. We have been together [for] two months. In the end, they will have to sack us – we are the ones who are playing.
“We are all in this, not only the coach, and I’m confident this team can go on to have a magnificent year.”
While in Spain’s national team alongside Lopetegui, Isco flourished under his setup and credited the boss for getting the best out of him. “In the national team he did a phenomenal job. Here as well, although the results aren’t coming,” he said.
“His idea of football convinces us all, but things aren’t working out. Football is fickle, but we have to turn this situation around.”
