Real Madrid coach Mourinho explains Ronaldo absence for Dinamo Zagreb rout
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has explained leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for last night's rout of Dinamo Zagreb.
Mourinho felt Ronaldo needed the night off.
He explained: "Cristiano played two games to the death in the playoffs with Portugal, and he gave a good performance in Valencia. He's worked very hard and it's normal to give him the day off. We spoke before the match and I told him we couldn't afford to lose this match and that I intended to play him 45 minutes if the outcome was still doubtful by half-time, but that my overall intention was that he didn't play tonight."
"As soon as we scored our first goals he told me himself he knew he wouldn't play."