Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has praised Cristiano Ronaldo for all of the hard work that he has put in to take him to the top of the world game and has called on him to use his 2013 Ballon d’Or win as a motivation to succeed in 2014.
Ronaldo was named winner of the Ballon d’Or as Fifa’s world player of the year on Monday, beating off competition from other favourites in the specials betting Franck Ribery and Lionel Messi, who had won the honour for the previous four years. Ancelotti and his Real Madrid team know better than most how hard Ronaldo works and they were quick to congratulate the Portugal captain. “We all congratulated Cristiano for his award, he deserved it. He is very happy as he worked hard to win and everything has worked out well,” Ancelotti said.
Having previously won the Ballon d’Or back in 2008 whilst still at Manchester United Ronaldo must have wondered if his talents would ever be recognised at the very highest level again, but, after another outstanding year, including two international hat tricks, he finally ended Messi’s dominance. Ancelotti now hopes that Ronaldo will use his win as motivation to continue performing and start a dynasty of his own. “Winning the Ballon d’Or was a great motivation and it will be one for 2014,” the Italian said. “Now he has more responsibility because he is playing with that award, although it will be tough to ask him to score more than the 69 goals he netted last year,” he added.
With Real Madrid, 5/2 for the Spanish title with Paddy Power, currently trailing Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in La liga, Ancelotti will need Ronaldo at his best if his team are to close the gap and reclaim the title that Barcelona returned to the Camp Nou last season.
