|
Ronaldo’s form had defied all logic and prediction as the Portuguese playmaker seems almost ageless. The player despite in his early thirties remains a force to reckon with by opposing teams, as he had continued to justify his off the field status with superb display on the pitch. The Portuguese players have undergone the one of the greatest evolution of the Modern game. The Evolution of the former Manchester United attacker incidentally have been instrumental to his successful football career which have summarized by collective and individual success. The player who began his career as a winger on the right hand-side for Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon was converted to an attacker on the left flank by Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at the Old Trafford. Ronaldo quality however shone as he display his ability to score in the 2007/2008 season with 42 goals in all competition en-route to the Champion’s league triumph over rivals Chelsea in Moscow, Ronaldo’s quality in-front of goal also enabled the Manchester club make it to the finals the next year before leaving for the Real Madrid in the summer 2009. Ronaldo’s peak shown at Madrid as the Portuguese talisman netted 451 goals in his 9 years at the Spanish capital, and this culminated into successful triumph in the continental competition with four UEFA Champion’s league trophies.
Ronaldo’s goal scoring tendencies will not have manifested if not for the arrival of Jose Mourinho at the Bernebeu in the summer of 2010. Portuguese tactician was able to shape Ronaldo’s eyes towards goal as the former Manchester United attacker style of the play was redefined. Ronaldo who dribbled during his days at the theatre of dreams was replaced with Ronaldo who has eyes set for goals. Ronaldo in the first season of Mourinho managerial era at Real Madrid netted 53 goals. In 2011/2012 season, Ronaldo netted his second highest goal tally for a season with 60 goals. Ronaldo went on to score 53 goals in the third and final season of Jose Mourinho at the Bernebeu, the set a prelude to his evolution. Ronaldo following the departure of the former Chelsea manager, went on to maintain the amazing record of scoring 50 goals a season for three consecutive seasons before failing to achieve the feat in his second to the last and final season at the Bernebeu. Ronaldo within the course of his goal ambition had to evolve. The former Manchester United player had to sacrifice his dribbling skills as well as his previous style of player. It will be important to note that Cristiano Ronaldo during his days at Manchester united focused on individual game when with the ball, and rarely had eyes for goal. Even before his outstanding 42 goals in the 2007/2008 football season, the Portuguese playmaker barely had double figures once. However, Ronaldo under Jose Mourinho became goal oriented and this even made him to evolve totally as a False 9 during his last days at the Bernebeu. Ronaldo is currently one of the greatest players to grace the modern, but Jose Mourinho remains the unsung hero in his football career, though he did not lift trophies under Jose Mourinho. Cristiano Ronaldo will not have gotten to the level he is at the moment had Jose Mourinho not join Real Madrid in the summer of 2010. Ronaldo not getting to the level he is now also implies that Real Madrid might not have lifted the four continental trophies they have. It is important to note that before the arrival of Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid never crossed pass the round of 16 of the UEFA Champion’s League despite Ronaldo’ presence but the Portuguese and broke the record. Who knows the level Ronaldo could have been in had it been he refused to heed to Jose Mourinho’s call for evolution to a goal machine.
|
|
