Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has heaped praise on his talisman and four-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Zidane said that the 32-year-old sometimes makes him jealous with his sheer brilliance, adding that CR7 is the best player he has had as a coach.
Zidane enjoyed a illustrious career, but said that he wishes he could enjoy the thrill of goal scoring like his star player and his namesake and Brazil great Ronald Nazario.
Zidane said that he is sometimes envious of the two star forwards amazing goal tallies.
“As a coach, he is the best player I have had,” Zidane said of the Portugal international.
“I wasn’t able to play with him, unfortunately – but I did play against him. His statistics are amazing.”
“I played with the Brazilian Ronaldo, who was also an extraordinary player who scored a lot of goals. I’m jealous of them because I didn’t have those numbers.”
“I got a lot of assists but I just passed the ball and didn’t have their goal-scoring ability, so I never had the same feeling – that thrill of the ball hitting the net – as them.”
“They are decisive players.”
Zizou also spoke about the amount of respect he has for his opposite number at Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone.
“Simeone and Mono [German] Burgos are doing a great job for their club,” said Zidane. “I know Burgos a bit – I like him and have great respect for him.”
“I only know Simeone from playing against him but they are two people I have enormous respect for both of them for the job they are doing. Simeone is a very experienced coach.”