Ronaldo back to 'save' Real

2006-09-15 12:50

Madrid - Four seasons at the club have yielded one solitary league title but Brazilian star Ronaldo was on Friday being heralded as Real Madrid's potential saviour after their Champions League loss to Lyon.

"Ronnie to the rescue," was how sports daily AS on Friday saw the significance of the World Cup-winning striker's return to training some two months after a knee operation in his homeland.

"Ronaldo's return is a relief," said Marca sports daily as Real sought to heal their wounds following their outclassing by the French champions for the second year in a row.

"You were a disaster," was how coach Fabio Capello summed things up in the dressing room after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat according to media reports.

"We're saying sorry to the supporters. The problem is a mental one - we didn't know how to play as a group," said Brazilian midfielder Emerson, who was singled out with Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro as having played particularly feebly.

Real "have talent but no group spirit," the club's former sporting director Arrigo Sacchi told El Pais newspaper, which cited club sources as having identified "physical and psychological" problems in the team.

AS said Ronaldo's return "opens new perspectives" for Capello, who can now add him to an attack which has been led to date this season by new signing Van Nistelrooy, who bagged a hattrick at Levante in the league but who was powerless to produce a repeat against Lyon.

According to AS, Ronaldo is set to return in the October 1 local derby against Atletico Madrid, or he may even be held back until the October 14 match against modest Getafe.

Ronaldo, whose three World Cup goals made him the tournament's all-time leading scorer, netted just 14 times for Real last season, though he was still top scorer.

He has promised to fire 30 this term.

- AFP