Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League final against
Juventus on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo has come out and said he does not
believe he is a galactico.
Ronaldo, 32, is trying to help his team to a historic second
Champions League trophy in a row and a third in four years, but maintains his
scoring prowess is more down to natural ability and instinct.
"I'm not a typical player who likes to look at videos
because I think that things come naturally. Obviously it's important to know
one or two points but not to obsess," said Ronaldo, who has 40 goals in
all competitions for his team during the 2016-17 campaign.
"For example, in penalties, thinking about which side
you shoot more towards: When you're there, a lot of things go through your head
and it's one moment to decide. It's instinct. And that's why I don't really
like to plan what I'm going to do.
"A penalty in the final? It's not fear. I like to take
risks. It's a calculated risk, not life or death. I can score or miss.
"But I'm not going to miss. You have to think
positively. That's the difference between good players, very good players and
galacticos.
"I don't consider myself a galactico. But I consider
myself a player who has created history in Manchester, Madrid and with the
national team."
The Portugal international also credited his manager
Zinedine Zidane for playing to his strengths this term and allowing him to pick
which position he will occupy on the pitch, while insisting he is not an
out-and-out striker either.
"Obviously what I want the most is to play more freely
up front," Ronaldo said. "That is the opportunity Zinedine Zidane has
been giving me as a No. 9. I play freely. I play on the wing, down the middle.
I play whenever I think I should.
"People think I'm a striker. I'm never going to be a
striker. I've scored nearly 600 goals playing in the position I do," he
told La Sexta.
"It depends on the tactics the coach uses. I like to
play with more freedom; when we play 4-4-2 I like it more. But that's not to
say I don't like to play in a 4-3-3 because I do other movements and take up
different positions.
"Of course I like to play more freely because it's a
position in which I also play for Portugal, but obviously I also like the
4-3-3."
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