Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira
reiterated his backing for Ronaldo on Monday and said he had not
considered dropping the out-of-form striker.
"Other teams don't have anyone like Ronaldo and are green with envy of
Brazil," Parreira told Brazilian media in Montevideo where the world
champions face Uruguay in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier.
"We have him, yet we've been putting him down for some time."
Ronaldo has hit a bad patch with Real Madrid in the last two months and
is reported to have clashed with coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
His international form is also suffering and he looked lethargic in
Sunday's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Peru in Goiania, missing an
open goal and wasting another chance when he shot weakly at goalkeeper
Oscar Ibanez.
However, he partially atoned by providing the pass for Kaka's 74th
minute goal.
Parreira denied that Ronaldo was untouchable in the team.
"If I have to take him off, I will," said Parreira. "But I think I ought
to keep him on the field for everything that he is."
"I've been keeping an eye on Ronaldo and I haven't seen him at an low
ebb, or walking around with his head down. I think he just wants to get
through this bad patch and go back to being the player that the world
admires." |
