‘Ronaldo’s form is to blame’

Cristiano Ronaldo can only be upset with himself, not manager Zinedine Zidane, after being subbed during Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw at Las Palmas on Saturday, says Guillem Balague.

In his latest column, the Sky Sports Spanish football expert gives his take on Zidane’s decision, the rise of Sergi Roberto, and Samir Nasri’s important summer decision…

Zinedine Zidane is not a coach who builds a team based on tactical variations. He creates a world in which the stars are comfortable, that’s his secret.

Sometimes they defend high, sometimes deep, sometimes they attack down the wing, sometimes through the middle, but that’s not down to a plan, that’s down to the quality of the players.

You could see against Las Palmas that they had enough to beat them. They had 26 shots on goal, they should have never lost the game, they deserved the three points. But credit to Las Palmas for sticking to their principles even though it seemed to everybody it left them short against Real. Sometimes luck is in your side.

In that game we saw something unique. It’s the first time Ronaldo has been replaced at Real Madrid for tactical reasons. It’s never happened before.

Only Zidane could do that, because nobody else is brave enough to do so, but Ronaldo is not in good form.

It is hard for him to beat defenders (he physically peaked at least a year ago, and Zidane’s decision confirms it) but now he cannot even impose himself in the box. It is the first time he has been injured for two months so it will be a matter of time till we see a goalscoring Ronaldo. 

Cristiano, as you would expect, was upset. He said big words to himself, and shook the hand of Zidane but didn’t look at his face.

But Ronaldo should only be upset at himself. He’s not in good form, he’s peaked physically, and now I think Zidane is responding to that. He will be thinking that on Tuesday, Real have the champions league, and want him rested.

Rotation is the name of the game for the top three teams, and Ronaldo is going to be a part of that.

It can only be good for Ronaldo, because in the past three seasons towards the end of the campaign, he was very poor physically. It could be good news for Real Madrid too.

A competitive La Liga

This year we have seen how competitive the Spanish league is. With Alaves and Leganes drawing at Atletico, Alaves beating Barcelona, and Villarreal and Las Palmas drawing with Real, it just proves that it is still a difficult league, and it will become more and more difficult as clubs get more money to use wisely in the …

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