Cristiano Ronaldo Outburst Is Not Befitting Of The Great Player He Is

By Andreas Vou (@AndreasVou89)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to slam his teammates straight after a damaging defeat showed self-centered petulance and, given his performances in the big games this season, is not in a position to be criticizing others.

Just when Real Madrid looked to be turning a corner in their season, a defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid has taken them back to a state of crisis once again, as they slip 12 points behind leaders and arch-rivals FC Barcelona. In less than a couple of months in charge, new boss Zinedine Zidane seemed to have reunited a somewhat disillusioned dressing room after a disappointing stint under Rafa Benitez.

The early signs under the Frenchman were good; six wins in the first eight games, including a significant 0-2 away win in the Champions League against AS Roma. Just as importantly, Ronaldo, who had been misfiring under Benitez suddenly sparked into life with nine goals in those eight matches.  Running to embrace Zidane after his goal in Rome was a huge sign that any prior problems with the management had vanished and that better times were ahead. 

What a difference one match can make. Atletico Madrid, the until recently ‘unworthy’ rivals as labeled by the Real Madrid aficionados, earned their third straight win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, the first ever team to do so, as well as capping three full unbeaten seasons against Los Blancos. 

And from Griezmann’s second-half strike, all the good work that looked to be gathering pace in recent months collapsed. But it was the post-game comments from their superstar as much as the lackluster performance which has left the Madrid camp reeling after the defeat.

"If they were all at my level, we would be first," said Ronaldo after the game, referring to his Real Madrid teammates.

A home loss to a local rival can be damaging enough to a squad’s morale, but when the team’s most influential figure then publically slams his teammates’ inferiority you can only expect it to cause even further problems within the group. He then went onto specifically name those who he felt were hampering the team, and that the absence of the likes of Gareth Bale and Marcelo were damaging.

“I don't want to say that Jese, Lucas [Vazquez] or [Mateo] Kovacic are not good players, they are, but to win a competition, you need to have your best players."

Some have argued that his comments, when scrutinized, were not wrong. In regard to the big-name absentees being a factor in their defeat, perhaps yes. But they are not the comments that a prominent first-team player should be making. However, his most damming claim, that Madrid would be first in the league if everyone else played at his level were outright wrong. 

Ronaldo’s goal record of 35 goals in 34 on paper looks sensational. And in whatever shape or form a players scores that many goals, it is to be applauded whoever or however they came about.  However, a look at where his goals have not come about tells a very interesting story and makes his statements even less justifiable.

Against the other four sides in the top five of La Liga – FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Sevilla – Ronaldo has yet to score a single goal this season and all four of their defeats have come against these teams. 

He is the player that should be leading by example, so to have the audacity to come out with those statements when he has gone missing where his team needs his guidance the most shows his desire to alleviate criticism from himself and instead place it onto his teammates. Last Saturday against Atletico, again, the best chances of the game fell to his feet, and to his head, yet fired his 14th blank out of 27 games this season.

Hours after the uproar that his comments had created, Ronaldo attempted to put out the fire that he had erupted, claiming that he was referring to a “physical” level, rather than a technical one. Yet, it was clear that it was an unconvincing backtrack on his prior statements. In times of hardship, the young and possibly inferior players need a leader, and while his incredible ability so often carries his team, a true leader has to be as such both mentally and physically.

His comments were another display of petulance and egoism that he has demonstrated all too many times throughout his illustrious career which leaves a bitter taste around the great player that he is. 

Due to the timing and their content, such comments would be out of line in any squad, but even more so when it is someone with the influence and stature of Ronaldo.