17/07/2004
Ronaldo feels the heat as Camacho cracks the whip
Real Madrid's Brazilian star striker Ronaldo said
he and his teammates are feeling the heat as new coach Jose Antonio Camacho
cracks the whip in pre-season training.
With last season having been a trophyless flop for the nine-times European
champions, Camacho is determined to get Ronaldo, David Beckham and company into
tip top shape for the new season which starts in the final weekend of August.
"I don't know if I will survive through to the end of the pre-season," Ronaldo
said only half jokingly after completing a four-and-a-half kilometre (three
miles) training run.
"I am very stiff," he added, looking forward to later less strenuous work with
the ball.
"This is the worst time of the year but it is very necessary. We have to make a
big sacrifice to get ourselves in shape for the whole year.
"Last year things collapsed in the final month and a half and this season we
must make up for lost time. We must win the fans back over," said the 2002 World
Cup winner who is determined to land the Champions League which he has missed
out on since joining from Inter Milan.
"The league title, but above all the Champions League is what I'm after.
"The Champions League is the only title I have missed out on in my career. It's
one of my most important objectives this year," Ronaldo said.
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