Zidane angered by 5-game Ronaldo ban

Advertisement

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane expressed his anger Tuesday at a five-game ban handed to Cristiano Ronaldo for pushing a referee after being sent-off against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.

Madrid holds a 3-1 first leg lead going into the second leg against its fierce rival Wednesday (2100 GMT), but will have to do without Ronaldo.

The World Player of the Year was controversially shown a second yellow card for diving on Sunday and handed an extra four-game ban for a light push on referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being shown the 10th red card of his career.

“We are very annoyed,” said Zidane.

“When you look at everything that happened, to think Cristiano won’t play five games with us… it is infuriating.”

Madrid’s appeal against the red card, which could reduce the ban from five games to four, will be held before the game Wednesday.

“The (appeals) committee will meet and I hope they look well upon it,” added Zidane.

“Cristiano is annoyed because he wants to play and when he doesn’t play, he isn’t happy.”

Ronaldo was on the field for just 24 action-packed minutes Sunday as he was only introduced as a second-half substitute after a curtailed pre-season due to his participation in the Confederations Cup with Portugal.

He made a huge impact with a stunning strike to put Madrid into a 2-1 lead 10 minutes from time, but unwisely picked up his first yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration.

And two minutes later he was dismissed as he fell inside the area under pressure from Samuel Umtiti.

“Cristiano’s ban is excessive,” added Madrid defender Dani Carvajal.

“It is a frustrating feeling for him. Hopefully the committee will reduce it by a few games.”

Should Ronaldo’s appeal not be upheld, he will miss Madrid’s first four La Liga games of the season against Deportivo la Coruna, Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad.

However, Zidane insisted he is not desperate to add to his forward line before the transfer window closes on August 31, despite selling strikers Alvaro Morata and Mariano Diaz this summer.

Advertisement

Real has been linked for months with a move for Monaco’s 18-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe, but look set to be beaten to the Frenchman’s signature by free-spending Paris Saint-Germain.

“Anything can happen between now and August 31, but what I can say is that I am very happy with the players I have,” said Zidane.

Former Man United defender

Brown joins Kerala Blasters

Indian Super League’s Kerala Blasters have signed former Manchester United defender Wes Brown ahead of the 2017-18 season, the Kochi-based franchise said Tuesday.

The 37-year-old was a free agent after making five appearances for Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship last season.

“Hello India, Happy Independence day! I’m coming soon to the exciting Indian Super League to play for Kerala Blasters,” Brown tweeted, shortly after Kerala made the announcement.

A United academy product, Brown made 362 appearances for the first-team between 1998 and 2011, winning five Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies.

Brown, a former England international, will link up with Kerala’s new head coach Rene Meulensteen, who worked with him during his time at Old Trafford.

Henderson can’t influence Coutinho

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson admitted Monday that he is powerless to influence Philippe Coutinho’s thinking, after the Brazilian reportedly submitted a transfer request.

“It is obviously a difficult situation for Phil. Whatever I say will not help the situation but as players, we are fully focused on the game,” Henderson said.

“As players, you expect things in the transfer window to happen and players come and go.

“Of course, if you ask everyone, they want Phil to stay as he is a world-class player. I have had conversations with Phil, it is private, (but) I don’t think I can influence the situation.

“I am close to him and I have a lot of respect for him, but everything that happens is nothing to do with me.” — Agencies

Advertisement