Cristiano Ronaldo feels the appointment of Zinedine Zidane in January improved Real Madrid. ‘We didn’t make a good start…’
Ronaldo has been nominated for the Best Player in Europe 2016 award, along with teammate Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, and told World Soccer magazine that the hiring of Zizou, to replace Rafa Benitez, was a pivotal moment in the season.
“It was a year that had a bit of everything. We didn’t make a good start, or rather we didn’t start the way we wanted to, but we ended it well – that was the key to the season. I think that with Zidane’s arrival, many aspects of the team improved,” the Portugal captain said.
“We were able to win the Champions League, on a personal level I was the top scorer in the Champions League en route to us winning it, so it was possibly one of the best years of my career.
“In terms of trophies it was possibly the best year of my career. After winning the Champions League, winning the European Championship with my country capped an extraordinary year for me. Trophy-wise it was the tops, I’ve never had a better year.
“The same goes both collectively and individually, because I was the top scorer in the Champions League and had a good European Championship, and we were able to win the two most important trophies.”
Ronaldo also spoke of the importance of the award for which he has been nominated, a price he won in 2014.
“I see it as a privilege. Since the prize has been around I’ve almost always been in the mix. I think there have been four editions of the prize and I’ve been nominated for three, if I remember correctly, so it’s an honour,” he continued
“It’s a sign of a great season on an individual level and on a collective level too, with Real Madrid having won the Champions League, and obviously it’s a beautiful moment in my career and I’m happy.
“It would be something very important for me. It’s obviously an individual trophy. The most important thing was that we won trophies as a team.”
