Mourinho: Ronaldo should be fit for Lyon
Reuters - Friday 11 March 2011, 13:31
MADRID - Real Madrid forward Cristiano
Ronaldo should recover from a muscle strain in time to face
Olympique Lyon in the Champions League last-16 second leg next
week, coach Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
The Portuguese international picked up the injury just over
a week ago and was left out of the squad for Real's La Liga
clash at home to struggling Hercules on Saturday.
"I think he'll play, but I don't like it when players aren't
100 percent," Mourinho told a news conference.
"If he had to play tomorrow he wouldn't be, but if he trains
Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I'm convinced he'll be able
to play."
Real, who drew 1-1 in Lyon last month, will be seeking to
qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the
first time in seven years when Lyon visit on Wednesday.
The Portuguese coach also took the opportunity to have
another dig at arch-rivals and La Liga leaders Barcelona, who
top the standings with a seven-point advantage over Real with 11
games left to play.
He again suggested Barca received favourable treatment from
Spanish football bosses in the scheduling of games.
"It isn't the same for everyone," Mourinho said.
"I'm not stupid and we all know that if the gap between the
teams grows bigger the championship is lost.
"When one team plays in the Champions League on Tuesday and
in the league on Sunday (Barca), and the other on Wednesday and
then Saturday, they aren't giving Real Madrid the same chances
to compete."
After facing Lyon, Real face a city derby against neighbours
Atletico Madrid at the Calderon next Saturday.
Having hosted Arsenal at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, Barca
travel to face Sevilla this Sunday.