Cristiano Ronaldo Takes Vow of Silence After Real Madrid Booed off vs. Schalke

Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed not to speak to the press until the end of the season after he and his Real Madrid team-mates were booed off the Bernabeu pitch following Tuesday night's 4-3 Champions League loss to Schalke.

Madrid progressed to the quarter-finals with a 5-4 aggregate score, and Ronaldo bagged himself a brace in an otherwise quiet performance. Despite Madrid negotiating through a tricky tie, the local crowd showed their dissatisfaction at the end of an exhilarating 90 minutes.

"I won't talk again until the end of the season," Ronaldo said, as reported by Pete Jenson of the MailOnline. Jenson's report doesn't specify why, but after hearing the likes of Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas jeered during play, it's suggested CR7 is angry with the treatment of the European champions.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Casillas highlighted the feeling of the squad, per Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football: "We've hit rock bottom, but the positive is that on Friday next week we're in the draw and we can forget the last 10 days. Because it's been a dramatic 10 days."

Most teams would be pleased with making it into the last eight of the continent's top competition, but things are different at Madrid. Two defeats and a draw in their last three matches signals a crisis, especially now that Barcelona have managed to overtake them in the race for this season's La Liga title.

Reports prior to the Schalke loss suggested Carlo Ancelotti is on the verge of receiving the boot. Sky Sports' Guillem Balague believes "the Real hierarchy are now seriously considering parting company with Ancelotti in the summer and I will be very surprised if he is there next season."

This is perhaps the sad realisation of working for one of the world's top clubs. Despite capturing two trophies last season—including a famous La Decima triumph—the Italian coach may face overpowering scrutiny soon.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Unlike Ronaldo, Ancelotti didn't risk the wrath of supporters after the match. Instead, he indicated they are well within their rights to criticise the team, per Anthony Hay of the MailOnline:

"

The reaction of the crowd was totally justifiable but it will serve to wake us up. I still believe in the team because I know what they can give but at the moment they are not giving it. We are playing very badly. We need to train more, work more, we need more of everything.

"

Madrid now face a string of must-win fixtures to get the fans back on side. This starts with Levante on Sunday and is followed by March 22's Clasico tie against Barca. A failure to win this could see the guillotine fall on Ancelotti, particularly if he continues to persevere with the 4-3-3 formation that is currently leaving Los Blancos exposed in midfield.

Schalke managed to find chasms of space in front of the Madrid area. They had time to play the ball, could counter-attack freely up the pitch and forced Casillas into working overtime, per Squawka:

Ronaldo's decision to hide himself from the press will only serve to fuel rumours he isn't happy at the club, most likely leading to speculation Manchester United or another side will attempt to lure him away, as was suggested by Balague last year. This isn't going to help the side through a difficult period.

It's perhaps most telling that, with his headed double, Ronaldo overtook Lionel Messi as the Champions League's all-time goalscorer, per Hay. It is an achievement for the ages which may have been overlooked due to an inconsequential defeat. If Ronaldo is falling short of the fanbase's expectations, Madrid are in trouble.