Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho Reveals Cristiano Ronaldo Will Start Against Osasuna
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed that star player Cristiano Ronaldo will start against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
The Portuguese had suffered an injury in the Blancos' 0-0 draw with Real Mallorca in their opening game of the league campaign and missed Portugal's two Euro 2012 qualifiers. However, Ronaldo seems to have recovered and Mourinho believes that he is fit to start.
"Cristiano Ronaldo will be a starter," Mourinho is quoted as saying by Madrid's official website. "I am afraid of the possibility he may get injured again. I am afraid someone may hit him, but that's normal in football."
"He has been training at least five hours a day at Valdebebas. The medical staff and the player say he's 100% fit to play, so he has the same risk of getting injured as the rest of his team-mates. He will play because he is fit and because it will be a difficult game."
"I know what team I will use tomorrow. I think seriously about it to come up with the best option. Players have to think about one game at a time, but the coach has to be capable of looking ahead."
"Our most important match right now is the one against Osasuna. I won't give you my full line-up because I would like to leave two or three positions unknown to give the opposing coach something to think about."
"I will only announce my starting eleven when my rival announces his. [Sergio] Ramos, Pepe, [Ricardo] Carvalho and Marcelo will surely play in defence. [Sami] Khedira and Xabi Alonso will take on midfield duties. Cristiano will play with [Gonzalo] Higuain. I cannot confirm if [Sergio] Canales will be a starter."
The former Inter coach also said, "It will be a difficult match, but I am accustomed to playing before audiences who want their team to play well. It also happened at San Siro and Stamford Bridge. These are great clubs, accustomed to success, so it isn't a problem."
"Right now, we are focusing on taking risks to win. Our goal is to win every game. It is more important to win three games and lose two than to draw five. I don't want to achieve records; I want points."
"If we have only managed to draw the score tomorrow with ten minutes left in the game, I will take a risk to win come what may. Records are nice, but points are nicer."