ZCZC
BSP-23
FBL-POR-ITA-RONALDO
Ronaldo ‘not obsessed’ by individual trophies
LISBON, Dec 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Portugal star Cristiano
Ronaldo has insisted that he is “not obsessed” by individual
trophies, having missed on this year’s Ballon d’Or after
winning it five times.
The Juventus striker also missed out on FIFA and UEFA’s
player of the year trophies as former Real Madrid teammate
Luka Modric, a World Cup runner-up with Croatia, swept all
before him.
“I’m not obsessed by individual prizes,” Ronaldo told
Portuguese sports daily Record.
“The most important thing is to win collective trophies
and help the team. The rest comes naturally.”
Ronaldo added: “I don’t think all the time of beating
records. I work above all to help the club and be at my best
level.
“The technical, tactical and physical level of all teams
is better today,” he said. “It’s increasingly tough to win so
I have to keep working hard to stay on top.”
Having missed the start of Portugal’s Nations League
campaign to better adjust to life with Juve, Ronaldo said
that in 2019 he “envisages being at the disposal of the
national coach”.
Portugal will host the inaugural Nations League finals in
June, meeting Switzerland in the semi-finals.
In the wide-ranging interview, Ronaldo also dubbed as
“revolting” allegations of rape made against him dating back
to 2009, something he strenuously denies. He added that he
had a “calm conscience” and was “confident that everything
will very soon be clarified”.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1915HRS