Real Madrid Boss Zinedine Zidane Defends Cristiano Ronaldo After Red Card In Super Cup (Read What He Said)

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Real Madrid Boss Zinedine Zidane Defends Cristiano Ronaldo After Red Card In Super Cup (Read What He Said)

Zinedine Zidane said the decision to send off Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup win over Barcelona was “ludicrous”.

Substitute Ronaldo restored Real’s first-leg lead with a brilliant effort from range 10 minutes from time, but was sent off two minutes later after picking up a second yellow card for diving after going down under pressure from Samuel Umtiti.

To compound matters, the Portugal international then pushed referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea after being shown a red card.

Gerard Pique’s own goal had put Real ahead after a low-key first half, but in a frantic finish Lionel Messi equalised from the spot before Ronaldo struck, with Marco Asensio grabbing a last-minute third for the 10 men.

Real Madrid head coach Zidane said: “I’m annoyed that Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, it might not have been a penalty, but still, giving him a card is ludicrous.

“Let’s see if we can make arrangements for him to be available on Wednesday [the second leg]. I am truly proud of my players, they played well as 10 and really wanted the win. Now we turn our attentions to the return leg and we need to relax”.

Real skipper Sergio Ramos said of the second booking: “I was far away, but I think it was a piece of play in which (Ronaldo) lost his balance, rather than feigning anything.

“It could be appealed. Sending off a key player with 10 minutes remaining of a Clasico in which we’ve given our all is something which needs to be evaluated and thought about.”