Regret not resting Ronaldo more often: Coach Zidane

Zinedine Zidane, coach of Spanish football giants Real Madrid, has said he regrets not resting his star forward Cristiano Ronaldo more often.

The Portuguese international had to hop off the field towards the end of Wednesday's 3-0 La Liga win over Villarreal.

"Sometimes I regret not taking off Cristiano earlier (in games) so he doesn't go through this," Zidane was quoted as saying by goal.com after the match on Thursday.

"A player like Cristiano, sometimes he should rest, not finish a game, or sit it out. But he always wants to be out on the pitch."

"Sometimes, for me, today when I see him coming off pitch, it's difficult. There are important games to come, we'll see when he's back."

Zidane, however, does not think the injury sustained by Ronaldo is a serious one.

"Cristiano felt something at the end. He went off because he wanted to know what it was. It looks like more of a scare than anything else," said the 1998 World Cup winner.

"We will have to see tomorrow, but I'm relaxed now. We are concerned, but after seeing him in the dressing room I am less worried."

"He is relaxed. It doesn't look like anything serious. We will see tomorrow exactly what he has."

--IANS

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