Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane lauds Cristiano Ronaldo after he scores screamer in Fiorentina friendly win: 'That's what he
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo after the star didn't let his standards slip in the friendly victory over Fiorentina on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo scored the decider in a 2-1 win over the Italians with a stunning strike in a match being played to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sides' clash in the 1957 European Cup final.
The Ballon d'Or holder has set his sights on another spectacular season having won La Liga and the Champions League last season, and Zidane was typically effusive towards his talisman.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Frenchman said: "That's what this man is capable of, we're happy to have him here."
"We put in a disciplined display and made a good start. I'm happy because the fans came out in their numbers and that was very important for us."
"We achieved what we wanted to, the trophy remains here and we all head home happy."
Ronaldo is currently one game into a five-match domestic suspension which he received for pushing the referee during Madrid's Spanish Super Cup first leg win over Barcelona.
Zidane named a much-changed XI for the match against the Serie A outfit, with Sergio Ramos the only survivor from Madrid's 3-0 win at Deportivo on Sunday in their opening La Liga fixture of the season.
And they fell behind after just four minutes when ex-Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout smashed home an effort in off the post from outside the area to give the Serie A side an unlikely lead.
But Ronaldo teed up young striker Borja Mayoral to score Madrid's equaliser before the 32-year-old fired his side in front just past the half hour mark when he dribbled down the left flank, cut inside and curled home a powerful strike past Marco Sportiello.
Zidane added: "We got what we were hoping for, gave those players who hadn't had much of a chance some minutes and that's what these games are for."
"[Dani] Ceballos, Marcos [Llorente], Borja [Mayoral], Cristiano all got some game time."
"Now we have to rest up and tomorrow we'll start thinking about our LaLiga game against Valencia [on Sunday], which is coming around quickly."