Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane said that his most valuable player Cristiano Ronaldo will be totally fit before the next week’s Champions League final against Liverpool.
Football news: I look after everyone and see whether everyone is in good shape, says Zidane
The 33-year-old Portuguese player was subbed off during the interval in the El Classico draw against Barcelona where he had received an ankle sprain.
The Los Blancos management is hopeful that the injury from earlier this month has already healed and Ronaldo might feature in the last La Liga game against Villarreal on Saturday, as they will be trying to win the game and finish as runners-up in the league behind Barcelona.
"Right now he is 120%. He is fine. If Cristiano is 120% that's fine with me," said Zidane.
Currently they are three points behind Atletico Madrid, who has recently been crowned the Europa League champions and has far superior goal difference than Real Madrid in the league, and will face Eibar on Sunday for their last match as well.
After the league match, Real Madrid will prepare to win the Champions League for the third consecutive time as they will face Liverpool in Kiev on 26 May.
Real Madrid’s another star player Gareth Bale has been performing excellently as he scored twice in the 6-0 thrashing of Celta Vigo on Saturday. Bale had also previously scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw against Barcelona.
But Zidane made it clear that he would not be drawn into the fact that Bale had played himself into contention to feature in the starting XI in Kiev.
"You can say he's playing better because of the goals he has scored, but he has been training well," Zidane said.
"The most important thing is to see everyone in good physical shape. That's what I care about."
The 45-year-old former France and Real Madrid midfielder said that it would be “huge” to win the Champions League for a straight third year. If Zidane manages to win the title, it would see him equal the record of Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley, as both the managers have won three European titles.
Ancelotti led AC Milan to Champions League glory in 2003 and 2007 and also won the trophy with Real Madrid in 2014. Bob Paisley had won the title with Liverpool in the years 1977, 1978 and 1981.
"It would mean a lot of things," said Zidane. "It would mean we have been doing our job well and that my message has been getting through to the players and the staff.
"It's great to start my managerial career at this level but for me the most important final of the Champions League is this one, not the last one. We have to give it everything."