Over-played Ronaldo could burn out

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has played every single minute of their 24 league matches this season.

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Madrid – There are concerns in Madrid about the fatigue suffered by Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, 26, has played every minute of every one of Real's 24 league matches so far this season. On Saturday he is set to play in their game away to Deportivo Coruna.

Athletic Bilbao right-back Andoni Iraola is the only other player to have disputed every minute of league action. However, he will miss Sunday's home game against Athletic Bilbao due to suspension.

Ronaldo finished Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw away to Lyon limping, after taking a heavy blow to his left ankle, but is keen to play against Deportivo. In addition, coach Jose Mourinho realises Ronaldo's importance to the team, which is why he rarely misses a match or is taken off the field.

Mourinho said late on Friday that Ronaldo will play in La Coruna. “He is fine and he wants to play. It is of no use to me to protect him because injuries cannot really be predicted.”

The only game Ronaldo has missed this season has been December's cup game away to Levante, which had become a more formality because Real had won the first leg 8-0. Ronaldo actually wanted to play the second leg, but Mourinho, just for once, insisted on him taking a rest.

Sports daily Marca calculated on Saturday that the Portuguese striker will have played around 2,363 minutes in La Liga, if he plays from start to finish on Saturday in Riazor. Fans have expressed concern about Ronaldo's fatigue and fitness.

Real need to win in La Coruna because they are five points behind leaders Barcelona, who are away to Mallorca on Saturday.

In contrast to the policy of Mourinho, Barca coach Pep Guardiola tries to occasionally give a rest to key players like Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Xavi will miss the Mallorca match because of a pulled muscle in his right calf.

Ronaldo, in stark contrast, never wants to miss a game and is never taken off by Mourinho. His is enjoying some of the best form of his career, and is second in the scorers' chart behind Messi, 25 goals to 24.

Early on Saturday, Madrid radio station Cadena SER quoted Mourinho as saying that Ronaldo would play in La Coruna, and asked whether this was really in the best interests of the player and the club.

“Ronaldo is the most expensive player in the world,” commented the radio station, “and maybe Real should do more to keep him fresh and free of injuries.”

Last season, straight after joining Real from Mancester United for a world record fee of 96 million euros, Ronaldo badly twisted his right ankle and was out of action for two months. – Sapa-dpa

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/over-played-ronaldo-could-burn-out-1.1032784

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