Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo does have the full support of the Bernabeu despite relations between the player and a section of the crowd appearing to have soured last weekend.
The Portuguese, who cost Real a world record £80million when he joined from Manchester United in the summer of 2009, was jeered during the Primera Division leaders’ 5-1 win over Granada. He scored the final goal in the match, and responded to the jeers by not celebrating the goal.
Casillas, whose side travel to face Real Mallorca on Saturday, told www.realmadrid.com: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a very competitive player who always tries hard and wants to do his best.
“People will always ask a lot of him because of the sort of player he is. He wants to do his best for himself and for the club. The Bernabeu crowd is very demanding, and that’s a good thing. There is no debate about his quality. He has always had the support of the fans.”
The club’s honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano insists Ronaldo must accept it is the fans’ right to criticise him if they wish.
The Argentinian told Agencia Atlas: “The people in the crowd are the ones who pay, and they are always right.
“If the spectators demand from the players that they do their utmost and score goals, the players shouldn’t question this. The fans are always right. If they whistle or jeer someone, it’s because they want him to be effective.”
Real can extend their advantage at the top of La Liga to eight points with a win in the Balearic Islands before Barcelona take on Real Betis at the Nou Camp on Sunday night.
Jose Mourinho’s men have bounced back from their home defeat to Barca last month with back-to-back league wins either side of the winter break, and since the loss to the Catalans they have reeled off six straight wins in all competitions, including most recently a Copa del Rey win over Malaga which looks set to mean another meeting with Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Real will have to do without Germany midfielder Sami Khedira at Son Moix after he suffered a sprained ankle against Malaga which is set to sideline him for a month.
Barca have dropped just two points from their opening nine league games at the Nou Camp, but face a Betis side who have won three league games in succession.
Pep Guardiola will hope to have Dani Alves (leg) and Andres Iniesta (ankle) available after the pair were ruled out of squad for the Copa del Rey second leg match against Osasuna on Thursday night as a precaution.
Third-placed Valencia will take on Real Sociedad at the Mestalla in Saturday’s late game, while bottom side Real Zaragoza aim to end a run of six straight league defeats when they welcome Getafe to La Romareda.
Sevilla and Espanyol will be aiming for a win which could take them back into La Liga’s top six at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan while Granada host Rayo Vallecano in Saturday’s other match.
Osasuna, who have gone on a six-match unbeaten league run since their 7-1 humbling at Real Madrid, host Racing Santander on Sunday. Atletico Madrid are at home to Villarreal, Levante take on Athletic Bilbao at San Mames and Sporting Gijon are at home to Malaga.
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