Ronaldo feels the heat as Camacho cracks the whip

Real Madrid's Brazilian star striker Ronaldo said he and his teammates are feeling the heat as new coach Jose Antonio Camacho cracks the whip in pre-season training.

With last season having been a trophyless flop for the nine-times European champions, Camacho is determined to get Ronaldo, David Beckham and company into tip top shape for the new season which starts in the final weekend of August.

"I don't know if I will survive through to the end of the pre-season," Ronaldo said only half jokingly after completing a four-and-a-half kilometre (three miles) training run.

"I am very stiff," he added, looking forward to later less strenuous work with the ball.

"This is the worst time of the year but it is very necessary. We have to make a big sacrifice to get ourselves in shape for the whole year."

"Last year things collapsed in the final month and a half and this season we must make up for lost time. We must win the fans back over," said the 2002 World Cup winner who is determined to land the Champions League which he has missed out on since joining from Inter Milan.

"The league title, but above all the Champions League is what I'm after."

"The Champions League is the only title I have missed out on in my career. It's one of my most important objectives this year," Ronaldo said.