La Decima has become an obsession, admits Ronaldo

The Portuguese has revealed that he has put all thoughts of the World Cup to one side on account of his desire to help end Los Blancos’ 12-year wait for a 10th European title

Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that winning ‘La Decima’ has become an “obsession” for him – but a positive one.

Los Blancos are the most successful club in the history of the European Cup but they have not won the Champions League since 2002.

However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg of their semi-final tie with titleholders Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, and Ronaldo admits that he and his team-mates are desperate to end Madrid’s wait for a tenth trophy, explaining that even this summer’s World Cup is an afterthought for them right now.

“La Decima has become an obsession,” the attacker told reporters on Friday. “But a good obsession.

“The World Cup won’t influence anything in the remainder of the season; I’m fully focused on the league and Champions League.

“We won the [Copa del Rey] and we want to win the league and the Champions League. The latter is the most difficult trophy to win.”

Indeed, after a fascinating first leg in which the home side had to make do with just a 28 per cent share of possession at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo is expecting Madrid to once again try to make the most of their blistering pace on the break when the two sides collide again, this time in Bavaria.

“It will be a similar game,” the 29-year-old predicted. “Bayern are an excellent side, we have a small advantage and we will try to use it.

“It will be hard, but we have our weapons, the side is confident and we will try to score.”

Ronaldo also confessed that he is drive by the fact that the tournament decider will be staged in his native Portugal.

“To play the final in Lisbon would be a dream,” he admitted. “I don’t want to think about the final because there’s still a second leg to play, but we are dreaming about being in Lisbon and I think we can achieve it.”

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