Ronaldo confident of honouring 35-goal promise
18/01/2004
Ronaldo confident of honouring 35-goal promise |
MADRID, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Ronaldo believes he is well on course to honour his
pre-season promise to score 35 goals this term after grabbing the equaliser in
Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Real Betis on Saturday.
The
goal, complete with his trademark stepover, brought his tally for the season to
20 in all competitions and his total since joining Real Madrid two years ago to
50.
"I
hope to reach my promised total of 35 goals," the 27-year-old Brazilian said. "I've
now scored 50 goals since joining Real Madrid and that's an important figure,
but I now hope to go on and score another 50."
But
the former World Player of the Year said that he had not been happy with his
team's performance against a dominant Betis, who took the lead in the first half
with a well taken volley from live-wire winger Joaquin.
"We
didn't start the first half with the attitude you need to have in such a big
game," he said. "We improved after the break, though, and I thought we could
have gone home with a victory, but it just wasn't to be."
The
result meant that Real remained in second place in the Primera Liga one point
behind Valencia, who drew 0-0 at Valladolid on Saturday.
The
two sides meet in the first leg of a King's Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday
at the Bernabeu, with the return match a week later at the Mestalla.
"We
have to make the most of home advantage in the first leg," said the Real Madrid
striker. "It will be very tough when we visit Valencia, but there is no
favourite to win the tie because we are two very powerful teams."