Cristiano Ronaldo ‘will be at 100 per cent’ for Real Madrid in Champions League final

Ronaldo, 31, set alarm bells ringing on Tuesday when he ended training prematurely with a knock but was fit to train again the following day. He attempts to fire Real Madrid to a record-extending 11th European Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo takes part in a Real Madrid training session ahead of the Uefa Champions League final. Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP Photo
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Cristiano Ronaldo says he will be “100 per cent” for Saturday’s Uefa Champions League final as he attempts to fire Real Madrid to a record-extending 11th European Cup.

Ronaldo, 31, set alarm bells ringing on Tuesday when he ended training prematurely with a knock but was fit to train again the following day.

Although Ronaldo scored the final goal in Madrid’s 4-1 extra-time win over Atletico in the 2014 final in Lisbon, he has said he was far from his best due to a hamstring problem and is determined to put in a better performance at Milan’s San Siro on Saturday.

“Cristiano always appears in the games that matter. I’ll be at 100 per cent. On Saturday, I’ll be in better form than I was in Lisbon,” Ronaldo told Spanish television channel La Sexta.

“In Lisbon, my hamstring was hurting me. It was pretty bad. It was terrible because you know that in certain moments you could give more but you can’t because your body doesn’t respond.”

More from the Uefa Champions League final:

• Diego Simeone: Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann 'is one of the best three players in the world'

Latest news: Cristiano Ronaldo limps out of Real Madrid training ahead of Champions League final

Ronaldo has scored, and been on the winning side, in both the Champions League finals he has played in, having also won in 2008 with Manchester United.

He is top scorer in this season’s tournament with 16 goals and is one strike away from equalling the record tally of 17 he set in 2013/14.

Madrid’s all-time top scorer also gave the club a lift before the final by declaring he wants to stay for the long term.

“Real Madrid would be making a smart decision if they offered me a new contract,” he said.

Zinedine Zidane’s men are without defenders Raphael Varane and Alvaro Arbeloa for the game, while Atletico have a clean bill of health.

It is a far cry from the dishevelled state in which Diego Simeone’s team arrived at the 2014 final, when they struggled with fitness after a long season and suffered key injuries.

On their way to that Madrid showdown, Atletico won 1-0 at the San Siro. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have never won a competitive game at the stadium in 13 attempts.

Defender Diego Godin has said Atletico are in better shape than last time around, and thinks his side’s team ethic, instilled into them by Simeone, could prove key to winning their first European Cup.

“Our big secret is the effort the team puts in,” Godin said. “The way the whole team works to help the defence is incredible.

“The forwards — Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann or Yannick Carrasco — are always with us, defending in our box.

“That shows how committed we are as a team, and how much we believe in our style of play.”

Ronaldo thinks Jose Mourinho can lift Manchester United

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo would like to see Jose Mourinho bring the good times back to Manchester United but has dismissed a possible return to Old Trafford.

Mourinho is closing in on a deal to become the new manager at United and Press Association Sport understands talks continue with intricacies such as image rights believed to be being worked on.

The Red Devils won the FA Cup under Louis van Gaal this season but missed out on a place in the Champions League, contributing to the Dutchman losing his job.

Ronaldo said in an interview to be shown by the La Sexta TV station in Spain and quoted in The Sun: “He’s already signed, hasn’t he? I think it’s good. If it’s something United wanted I think it’s good.

“I hope Manchester United get back to being what they were because it’s an impressive club but in the last years they lacked an identity a bit.

“And it hurts me seeing United like that because it’s a club that I carry in my heart. I wish Mourinho can carry them back to the top.”

The 31-year-old, though, has told all other clubs to “forget” about trying to sign him as he feels that he is already at the best club in the world.

He added: “Right now, yes I am happy and I want to stay at this club. I don’t see any other club that is better than Real Madrid. If you weigh things up there is no better club.

“So all other clubs can forget about me because Real Madrid is the best.”

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