‘Now the beautiful part of the Champions League starts’: Cristiano Ronaldo relishing knockout stages and believes Juventus can go all the way despite shock defeat to Young Boys
Cristiano Ronaldo is no stranger to the latter stages of the Champions League knockout stages and the Portuguese has admitted ‘the beautiful part’ starts now after topping Group H.
A shock defeat in Switzerland to Young Boys on Wednesday did not do too much damage as group rivals Manchester United lost in Valencia which ensured the Italians finished as winners.
Guillaume Hoarau netted a brace in Bern while Paulo Dybala’s strike proved no more than a consolation.
Cristiano Ronaldo feels the ‘beautiful part’ of the Champions League is in the knockout rounds
Ronaldo and Co rounded off the group stages with a shock defeat away against Young Boys
But for Ronaldo, a player who has lifted the last three Champions League titles successively, the competition is only just hotting up and he is convinced he and his team-mates can go all the way.
‘Now the beautiful part of the Champions League starts and I’m confident we will be fully ready for it,’ the 33-year-old told reporters after the 2-1 defeat to Young Boys.
‘I’m calm because I know the potential of this team and my potential.
Guillaume Hoarau beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny from the spot as he scored a brace
Paulo Dybala pulled a goal back and then had an effort ruled out in stoppage time for offside
‘I could have scored a couple of goals easily but this is football, we just have to start to focus on the next game.’
Ronaldo hit the post in what proved to be a frustrating encounter for Massimiliano Allegri’s side.
While the immediate focus will switch back to their exploits domestically, the Italians will be eagerly anticipating news of their opponent in the knockout stages.
The draw is to be made in Nyon on December 17 with Schalke, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham, Liverpool, Ajax and Lyon all potential opponents in the last-16.
Juventus have come close in recent seasons, losing two finals to Barcelona and Real Madrid, as they continue to search for their first European Cup since 1995-96.
Last season the Italians reached the quarter-finals but fell to a Ronaldo-inspired Madrid. With the Portuguese now in their ranks, Allegri will hope it is his side who go on to topple the rest of Europe’s elite.
Ronaldo has serious pedigree in the competition having won the last three successive titles
Massimiliano Allegri is looking to deliver a first European Cup success for Juve since 1995-96