Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo
could not contain his delight at his team's 3-0 win in the local derby
at Atletico Madrid.
His team went to the top of the Spanish first division for the first
time since he took over last December, although Real may only have a
short spell at the top as both Getafe and Celta Vigo can overtake them
on Sunday.
"Tonight we played like galacticos," said the Brazilian coach, referring
to the phrase often used in connection with Real's expensive superstars
like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham.
Many pundits thought it had been a below-par performance for a team that
had a man advantage for nearly all the game, after Atletico's Antonio
Lopez had been sent off just eight minutes into the game.
But Luxemburgo shrugged off all criticisms in the post-match press
conference.
"How can I be disappointed?" grinned Luxemburgo, whose team has now won
their last four games.
"This victory was important because we had players coming back from
World Cup and international matches with all sorts of minor niggles.
They had hardly trained together for two weeks. This win showed our true
qualities."
It also showed some of Luxemburgo's true qualities although he still has
plenty of critics among the Real fans and Spanish media.
No longer is Luxemburgo's position in doubt, which it was a month ago
after three consecutive and emphatic losses.
Ronaldo got two of Real's goals on Saturday but left the field on a
stretcher after being accidently cut down by Atletico defender Luis
Perea.
Perea was trying to cut out a pass between Robinho and his fellow
Brazilian but only succeeded in putting the ball into his own net and
clattering into Ronaldo, who was left clutching his left shin and
writhing in agony.
However, Ronaldo soon dispensed with the stretcher and made do with the
supporting shoulder of a member of Real's coaching staff.
The manner of his final transport to the dressing rooms suggests that
the injury is not serious although his participation in Wednesday's
Champions League match against Rosenburg may be in doubt.
