Yes, Ronaldo makes everyone feel poetic here. There is much to fear for Real with this United game; the mood is uncertain, the club once again riven by political division, with Jose Mourinho and key players at loggerheads and the Special One now seemingly plotting his end game. Yet Ronaldo remains the one constant, vibrant symbol of Madrid’s hope and glory
When he was substituted, with Mourinho having the luxury of resting this historical figure for half an hour after his heroics in Real’s 4-1 win, the standing, roaring acclaim of the Bernabéu told of someone now quite adored.
In contrast, the noise which greeted Mourinho’s own name before the start was a decidedly mixed bag, probably 70 per cent cheers and 30 per cent jeers.
Last month, after the Copa del Rey game here against Valencia, the two men were locked in a well-publicised dressing room shouting match which supposedly featured Mourinho barking that “in the last 15 minutes you went hiding, Cris” only for Ronaldo to snap back “I give my life for you and you are wrong to criticise me!”
If that made it sound as if Ronaldo had responded like a hurt kid, then his performances since — two subsequent hat-tricks have ensured the first own goal of his career against Granada last weekend was forgotten — have demonstrated only indignant positivity.
No wonder Mourinho, silent again after the game such are his frosty relations with the local press, at least appeared to be all smiles on the bench. He has had wars with too many of his players this season to be able to afford to lose the support of the one champion who can ensure his tumultuous reign at the Bernabéu ends in glory at Wembley.
“Cristiano is spoiling us,” enthused Raul Albiol, making Ronaldo somehow sound like the Ferrero Rocher ambassador. You knew what he meant, though.
His first goal was a thing of wonder, a step over shuffle to leave his marker Maduro rooted like a blinded statue followed by a dipping 25-yarder which scorched on the only missile path which could possibly defeat the Seville goalkeeper Beto. With his supposedly weaker left foot too.
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