Moyes wants Rooney fired up for Leverkusen
MADRID/BERLIN: Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is out of Wednesday’s (early Thursday, India time) Champions League Group B match at home to Galatasaray due to a leg muscle strain, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Tuesday.
The Portugal forward limped off at the start of the second half of Saturday’s La Liga victory at Almeria and a scan on Monday confirmed he had damaged a hamstring.
The injury was not serious and Ronaldo might recover in time to feature in Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Real Valladolid, Ancelotti told a news conference.
“Cristiano cannot play tomorrow,” the Italian said. “He has picked up a very small problem. I think tomorrow he will start to work on his own on the pitch and we’ll see if he can be available for Saturday.
“It’s a muscle strain but the player is very confident he can play on Saturday.
“If there is a risk he could injure himself we will not use him. If he is fine then he’ll play.”
Ronaldo has netted 14 goals in his last seven games for club and country and his injury comes after a demanding start to the season during which he has played every match.
If Real avoid defeat against Galatasaray, whom they thrashed 6-1 in Istanbul in their opening game in September, they will qualify for the last 16 in first place.
The nine-time European champions top the group on 10 points from four of six matches. Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen each have four points and Juventus, who host Copenhagen on Wednesday, have three.
Ancelotti said Argentina winger Angel Di Maria or Spain under-21 forward Jese could replace Ronaldo in the starting lineup on Wednesday.
“It could be that we can play with Di Maria or Jese who played very well as a replacement for Cristiano against Almeria,” he added. “We have two options and I will decide tomorrow.”
Real’s France centre back Raphael Varane was also unavailable for Wednesday as he needed to rest the knee that was operated on earlier this year, Ancelotti added.
“We had a meeting with the doctors and the player yesterday and decided that Varane needs a period of rest and recuperation for his knee.
“He won’t be able to play for 10-12 days. We hope that with this period of recuperation the knee will not become inflamed. He doesn’t need another operation, just rest.”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich forward Mario Mandzukic will miss his team’s Champions League game against CSKA Moscow in Russia on Wednesday after failing to recover in time from a calf muscle injury.
The Croat, who has scored eight goals in the Bundesliga and another two in Europe this season, remained in Munich for treatment as the holders seek to seal top spot in Group D after already booking their ticket for the knockout stage.
“We need at least one point,” club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told reporters on Tuesday before the team’s departure.
“Then our position will be outstanding going into the last game against Manchester City because we want to win the group.”
Mandzukic is the latest to join Bayern’s injury list with Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xherdan Shaqiri, Claudio Pizarro and Diego Contento already ruled out.
Bayern, who advanced earlier this month with their fourth straight win in the group, have 12 points with two games left to play, three ahead of Manchester City in second.
“With a win we will be almost certain to top the group,” said Rummenigge, whose team are seeking to become the first club to successfully defend the Champions League trophy.
In Leverkusen, Germany, Manchester United manager David Moyes has said he wants England striker Wayne Rooney at his battling best and fired up for Wednesday’s (early Thursday in India) key Champions League clash at Bayer Leverkusen.
United top Group A with eight points, just one ahead of hosts Leverkusen, and need to beat Sami Hyypia-coached Bayer to confirm their place in the knock-out stages.
Rooney drew criticism in Sunday’s disappointing 2-2 Premier League draw at Cardiff City when he kicked Jordon Mutch early on.
Referee Neil Swarbrick showed Rooney a yellow card, but the 28-year-old went on to score United’s opening goal, then set up their second for Patrice Evra.
Rooney fired back via Twitter after Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler and pundit Graeme Souness both said he was lucky to avoid a red card, but Moyes said he prefers to see Rooney fired up.
“His form, attitude and temperament have been first class this season, I can’t fault it,” said Moyes, with Rooney having scored eight goals so far this season in Europe and the Premier League.
“Players sometimes have their moments when they flare up, but I want Wayne to have a fire in his belly, I want him to be tough and aggressive.
“I don’t want him kicking anyone, but we are seeing a Wayne Rooney who is in top form and scoring goals. (Agencies)