Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo drew flak following his comments about his teammate not performing at the same level as him, something the Galactico vehemently denied in the latest interview.
Real Madrid appears to have already conceded the La Liga title after collecting 54 points in 26 games, 12 points behind pace-setter rival Barcelona. Ronaldo, who played every minute for Real Madrid this season, blamed injuries to some of their key stars as the reason behind their subpar campaign.
"I don't know if it is for bad preparation at the start of the season, but we are having many injuries and that is hurting us," he said. "I don't want to knock anyone, no teammate, but when the best are missing... I like to play with Bale, Benzema...
"I don't want to say that Jese, Lucas [Vazquez] or [Mateo] Kovacic are not good players, they are very good, but... to win a competition you need to have your best players.
"Our best players are injured, unfortunately, it's a fact, the reality. Bale is injured, Pepe. Karim is not at 100 percent, Marcelo is injured. I believe that is the principal problem this year."
Ronaldo, three-time Ballon d'Or winner, received enormous criticism from the media following his comments about his teammates - the second-string players on the Real Madrid roster - not playing on the same level as his.
"It annoys me that they say that Cristiano has dropped his level, and that is why Madrid have dropped their level," he said. "If they were all at my level we would be first. You always ask me these crappy questions -- it seems that here in Spain, I am in the s---.
"The numbers do not lie, statistics never trick you, it is easy."
Sources: ESPN FC