Cristiano Ronaldo Hails Zinedine Zidane, Taunts Media After Madrid vs. Wolfsburg

Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed the influence of manager Zinedine Zidane in the wake of the club’s superb turnaround against Wolfsburg in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. He also had some words for those who have been critical of the forward this term. 

Facing a 2-0 deficit after the first chapter of the tie, a trio of fine goals from Ronaldo saw Los Blancos flip this one around, much to the delight of the assembled Madridistas inside a fervent Santiago Bernabeu. And afterwards the 31-year-old reserved special praise for his manager, per Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror:

"

I love working with Zidane. I love his personality and the way he manages us. I'm very happy.

Just because I scored three goals today it doesn't mean it's my best game. I'm very happy about the goals, but the important thing is the team. The fans have been sensational tonight. We have taken an important step.

It was a perfect night. I said it would be a magical night, and it was.

"

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The three goals made it an incredible 16 for the season in the Champions League for Ronaldo, and he insisted that stats like these are the perfect response to those who’ve criticised him lately.  

"I work a lot,” he said, per Richards. “Goals, assists and victories come naturally. When you work, God repays you. The media says I'm having a bad season, but just look at my numbers. Not bad, eh?”

Here’s a reminder of the three goals netted by the Portuguese, per BT Sport Football:

While it’s true that Madrid were only in this predicament after a rancid showing in the first leg in Germany, they turned in a wonderful performance to complete this turnaround.

CURTO DE LA TORRE/Getty Images

One goal for the visitors would have effectively ended this tie, as it would have left Real chasing the contest and needing four goals to progress. But the balance in their play was perfect and a lot of credit for that must go to Zidane. 

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl thinks the Frenchman has done tremendously since taking over from Rafael Benitez:

Ronaldo certainly seems to be benefiting. While his goalscoring numbers were not unimpressive under Zidane’s predecessor Rafael Benitez, since the club’s former midfielder took on the job at the Bernabeu, the No. 7 has grasped responsibility at crucial times; he also netted the winner in the Clasico against Barcelona recently too.

JOSEP LAGO/Getty Images

It’s performances such as these that are making the assessment that Ronaldo doesn’t show up in big games for Real look a little silly. ESPN FC’s Miguel Delaney thinks that notion was banished long ago:

Ronaldo will feel as though he still has a job to do for Real this season, however. Barcelona have lost some ground in the title race in La Liga, opening the door for a potential late surge from Los Blancos. Of course, there’s also the opportunity for this team to clinch what’d be a record 11th European Cup win.

With a testing semi-final tie to come, Real will likely look to Ronaldo again. His talent is supplemented by some fine players, with the likes of Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema also shining against Wolfsburg, but you suspect if Los Blancos are to be victorious in the San Siro on May 28, Ronaldo will be at the crux of Zidane’s master plan.