Cristiano Ronaldo has been excellent by normal player standards, pretty good by Real Madrid standards and thoroughly average by his own standards since the winter break. He didn't put in a good performance in the second leg against Juventus on Wednesday, and former Real Madrid director of football Arrigo Sacchi thinks it's because he's unfit.
Backheel Breakfast: Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t fit
The old man has a point.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
“For three months now Cristiano Ronaldo has not gone past a player. He scores goals, as he is a fighter, but he is not fit.”
Sadly, this could be what derailed Real Madrid's season, and a big part of why he didn't want to speak to the media. He's not looked like himself lately, but 50 percent of Cristiano Ronaldo is better than 100 percent of all but a dozen or so players on earth. Unfortunately for Madrid, it still wasn't enough to get by Juve.
In the news
Boca Juniors fans pepper sprayed River Plate players, causing their game to be abandoned. There’s no news yet on a replay or forfeit.
Luis Suarez is currently out of Barcelona training with a hamstring injury.
Koke says he won’t be leaving Atletico Madrid this summer. (AS)
Hull midfielder Jake Livermore has tested positive for cocaine. (Telegraph)
Rafa Benitez might go coach West Ham. (Football Italia)
Danny Welbeck won’t play against Manchester United this weekend. (ESPN FC)
If Barcelona win the Champions League, Arsenal get £3 million from the Thomas Vermaelen deal. (Guardian)
Everton will play a friendly instead of Europa League if they make it into the latter. (Mirror)
Newcastle cancelled their end of the season party because they’re so bad. (BBC)
You should be reading
A special you should be watching for this killer video on FC St. Pauli. (Vice)
Kirsten Schlewitz on Italian supporter culture and hanging out with Fiorentina fans. (Soccer Gods)
Richard Williams on hope for English managers. (Guardian)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Manchester United are going to ditch Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie so they have the space on their wage bill for Gareth Bale. (Mirror)
Paulo Dybala hasn’t quite signed for Juventus yet. (Football Italia)
Andre Ayew is probably signing for a big English team. (Star)
If Arsenal can’t get Petr Cech, they want ... Kasper Schmeichel? (Telegraph)
Tottenham won’t be selling Harry Kane. (Guardian)
Thursday’s games
Catch some Queretaro-Veracruz and Chivas-Atlas highlights.
You can catch highlights of Copa Libertadores here, including some Boca-River nonsense. (FootballManiaChannel)
What to watch this weekend (click for listings, all times ET)
Sunderland vs. Leicester (Saturday, 10 a.m.) - By far the biggest of the weekend’s EPL matches.
America vs. Pachuca (Saturday, 6 p.m.) - There were five goals in the first leg and there will be more in the second.
Tigres vs. Santos (Saturday, 8 p.m.) - This one should be a bit tighter, but Santos have to attack.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 11 a.m.) - Just because it’s a proper two big teams match.
Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona (Sunday, 1 p.m.) - Same.
Atlas vs. Chivas (Sunday, 7 p.m.) - Expect shenanigans.
Veracruz vs. Queretaro (Sunday, 9 p.m.) - Expect cool goals.
USA vs. Mexico (Sunday, 9:30 p.m.) - We're not sure why the USWNT is playing cupcake opponents to get ready for the World Cup, but here's a pre-World Cup warm-up match.
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