20.06.2012 » Carlos Queiroz: "Talking too much about Ronaldo weakens the team"
After the stunning performance Cristiano Ronaldo had against the Netherlands this past weekend, several voices have raised in defense of the Portuguese player honor and reputation. It wasn't exactly the case with Carlos Queiroz, who has coached Ronaldo in Manchester United and in the Portuguese National Team in the past, but had no problems in affirming that the media is mistakenly treating the Portuguese Team as a one-man show. Last Sunday, Ronaldo has probably presented the fans with his best performance ever in a Portuguese jersey and Queiroz is concerned that everyone starts expecting for Ronaldo to do all on his own in the upcoming game against the Czech Republic, in the EURO 2012 quarter-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Never give up:
After what we witnessed last weekend in the match between Portugal and the Netherlands, it seems hard to believe that Ronaldo will carry less responsability in the upcoming game(s) of the EURO 2012. The Portuguese forward impressed and surprised most of the critics, with a performance that can only be matched and compared with some of his best displays for Real Madrid and Manchester United. With the EURO 2012 quarter-finals decision match scheduled for this Thursday, the World will turn its attention to Ronaldo, as he'll be the man taking all the pressure and responsability once again. Carlos Queiroz is convicted that this sort of obsession the public and the media have with Ronaldo can have a negative effect on how the Portuguese Team plays...
Carlos Queiroz: "When other great Portuguese players have retired a few years ago, as it was the case with Luís Figo or Rui Costa, Ronaldo has become the main and key player of the team. Everytime someone talks about us, they do it by looking at Ronaldo as the center figure of this team and it shouldn't be like that. The focus should be given to the team as a whole, with Ronaldo standing out from it", started by pointing out the current Iran National Team manager.
Carlos Queiroz: "This excessive responsability we're giving to Ronaldo, simply forces people to turn against him everytime there is a result that doesn't meet expectations. Football isn't a game of one against one, but rather a team game. Ronaldo can't have all the public attentions being drawn into him", stated the former Real Madrid coach, in a Portuguese TV show.
He then insisted on the same idea, as he predicted that everyone will benefit if the pressure and responsabilities are spread amongst the Portuguese team as a group and not as individualities. Queiroz: "We used to have other players in the past, who shared this sort of burden. When Figo wasn't having a good day, Rui Costa would step up. But the way things are today, they just don't allow us to have that possibility. A goal from Bruno Alves isn't worth less than a goal from Ronaldo! I truly believe that the more we talk about Ronaldo, the less team we'll have. In the other hand, the more we talk about the Portuguese Team as a whole, the more chances we'll have of seeing the best of Cristiano Ronaldo!", remarked Carlos Queiroz.
Real Madrid's season is now over and there are no games left in their schedule until the pre-seasons starts by July. Cristiano Ronaldo is now with the Portuguese Team, in the EURO 2012, and the next game will be against Holland, next Sunday (June 17). You can watch Juventus live stream, Portugal vs Czech Republic, Germany vs Greece, England vs Italy and Thunder vs Miami Heat, all from our sports live streams section. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be on the starting eleven, when Portugal clashes against the Czech Republic, in the EURO 2012 quarter-finals.
Portugal vs Czech Republic kick-off time (21-06-2012):
Jakarta (Indonesia) | GMT+8: 02:45
Spain (Madrid) | GMT+2: 20:45
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | GMT+1: 19:45
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | GMT-1: 17:45
New York (United States) | GMT-4: 14:45
Los Angeles (United States) | GMT-7: 11:45
Beijing (China) | GMT-7: 11:45
Sources: ronaldo7.net / ojogo.pt
