Zidane: Real Madrid Not Dependent On CR7

Zinedine Zidane rejected suggestions Real Madrid are dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo following a stuttering start to their defence of La Liga in the Portuguese star's absence.

"You know who Cristiano is," Zidane told reporters at his pre-match media conference. "We cannot talk about a dependency, but I always want him to be with us.

"What interests me is that everyone can play. Cristiano brings not only goals, but is a leader as well and he always wants to win. He transmits that [to his team-mates]. We are all happy that he is with us. He's very focused on what he has to do. In addition, he is very happy to play again because it is what he likes, what makes him happy." 
 
"He's going to play tomorrow, but we're not going to have him on Sunday. I hope Sunday is the last game of the season that he is not here." 
 

Ronaldo was dismissed during the first leg of their Supercopa de Espana triumph over Barcelona and received a five-match ban for shoving the referee.

UCJ, UNILORIN.