Ronaldo Says, “Benitez Is Different From Zidane.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has openly admitted his relationship with former Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez was, indeed, frosty and says the former manager is completely different from Zinedine Zidane.

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal for club, Real Madrid.

CR7 had a brief chat with Jugones from La Sexta and had a lot to say about the man, Benitez. It’ll be remembered that the former coach was hired last year and sacked by January, 2016.

During the interview, Jugones asked the famous Portuguese player if it was Benitez who taught him how to take free kicks and the intended sarcasm worked very well. Ronaldo couldn’t stop laughing at the thought. In his response: “You can always learn from your Coaches. Some things can be learned and not others. I saw different things from him than from other Coaches, but obviously there are things no one can teach you. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.

“You can get something positive from Coaches. I’m not only talking about free kicks but how you strike the ball, how you dribble, but that’s their thing.

“Benitez would say ‘ok.’ There are some things you can’t debate with someone else because you think differently, so you just say thanks and that’s it.

“Zidane is smart. He doesn’t talk a lot. The ones who talk a lot don’t pay a lot of attention. He’s shy but very positive. I identify with these people. He is very professional. I hope he wins his first Champions League as a Coach and stays for years. He hasn’t got a lot of experience as a Coach but he’s finding his way well, his style and I like it.”

In about 24 hours, coach Zinedine Zidane shall lead Real Madrid into Saturday’s Champions League final against Atletico Madrid and Ronaldo believes it would be a failure if Los Blancos gets nothing but victory.

“Yes, it might be. But if we win it means the season has been excellent, and to lose is a failure. They’re the two points. I’d prefer to end with a season at the top. We will win the Champions League,” he predicted.

Talking about himself, the famous forward says: “Cristiano always plays the games that count. I’ll be 100%. I’ll be better on Saturday than in Lisbon [in the 2014 final also against Atletico]. My hamstring was full of pain then. It’s terrible because there are times you know you can give more but you don’t because your body won’t allow it.

“I like to play. People say to me ‘Cris, you’re not 20…’ I have to learn to stop every few games. 3am ice baths? They make me feel good. If I go out with my friends, I have one when I get home because I feel good.”