- Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists he’s happy with Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ronaldo endured a slow start to the season having scored four goals in 14 games
- Real’s talisman has since turn his form around and scored a hat-trick on Saturday
- The Portuguese forward has now scored seven goals in his last four games
- Zidane’s side face Paris Saint-Germain in a season-defining game on Wednesday
Real Madrid face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the Champions League and it could be a match which defines their season.
Although third-placed Madrid crushed Real Sociedad 5-2 on Saturday at the Bernabeu, they still trail leaders Barcelona by 16 points and have no hope of defending their league title.
Coach Zinedine Zidane’s future could depend on a good result in the last-16 first leg and the coach was relieved to see Cristiano Ronaldo hit his best form against Real Sociedad.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists he’s happy with Ronaldo’s recent form
The Portuguese forward scored a hat-trick to reach seven league goals in his last four matches, turning his form around after a troubled start to the season.
Ronaldo netted four goals in his first 14 league matches, his poor form one of the reasons Barcelona were able to leave Madrid in the wake during the first half of the season.
‘We are happy (with Ronaldo),’ Zidane told reporters. ‘On Friday they asked me if I was worried about him not scoring goals and he scored three.’
The Portuguese forward scored a perfect hat-trick after scoring with his head and both feet
Ronaldo rounded Sociedad keeper Geronimo Rulli to score his third and Madrid’s fifth
Last season Ronaldo converted into a centre-forward in a classic No 9 mould from his previous role as a winger, helping the side retain the Champions League by scoring crucial hat-tricks against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid as well as a brace in the final against Juventus.
He was back to his clinical best against Real Sociedad after missing chances last weekend in a 2-2 draw against Levante, putting the final touch on an excellent team move in the first half and heading home from a corner.
Ronaldo’s third goal exhibited his pure poacher’s instinct, alert to fire home the rebound after Gareth Bale’s shot was blocked by Geronimo Rulli.
Zidane say he’s not worried about Ronaldo as they prepare for PSG on Wednesday evening
