Carlo Ancelotti considers Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo to be the greatest
forward in the history of football, but suggested he needs a free role to be at
his best.
Ronaldo has faced some criticism this
season, particularly for his performances in matches away from the Santiago
Bernabeu, despite scoring 40 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions for
Madrid.
The Portuguese was beaten to the 2015
FIFA Ballon d'Or award by Barcelona great Lionel Messi in January, losing out after
winning the accolade for 2013 and 2014 while coached by Ancelotti
The Italian, who will take charge at
Bayern Munich next season, says Ronaldo will not produce his best results if
used as a central striker, despite receiving praise from Madrid coach Zinedine
Zidane for his performance in the position in the 4-0 win overRoma in
the Champions League on March 8.
"He is one of the best players
ever, the best forward in the history of football. I have never coached a
better player than him," Ancelotti wrote in his column for Sina Sports.
"There is an offensive position
that is not the best for Cristiano Ronaldo – the centre-forward role.
"Cristiano did not like playing
with his back to goal, he prefers to find space on the flanks and attack the
opposition goal.
"Cristiano will always be able
to find his place, because he has a special talent for getting around the pitch.
"[Under me] the team played a
4-3-3 with Cristiano starting on the left wing, but we soon found out he needed
more freedom to cover more of the pitch and be where the action was.
"We'd often see Cristiano on the
two attacking wings and even as a playmaker. Cristiano has to have total
freedom so that he is able to believe in what he can do. Giving Cristiano
freedom in attack is positive because it makes him even more unpredictable.
"To ensure that his team-mates
offer him the best support possible, he has to feel as though he is free at
every moment and in any part of the pitch."
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