The Portugal international has told the Italian that he “feels at 100 per cent” after a recent knee problem but the Blancos boss is unsure of whether to start the 29-year-old
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is “confident” that Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit to face Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday but is nonetheless reluctant to risk the forward at Signal Iduna Park.
The Portugal international picked up a knee injury in Los Blancos‘ 3-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Jurgen Klopp’s men and sat out last weekend’s Liga win at Real Sociedad.
Ancelotti revealed on the eve of the game in Dortmund that Ronaldo is likely to be available for selection but the Italian coach yet to decide whether to start the Ballon d’Or holder.
“Regarding Cristiano, he feels that he is at 100 per cent, so we are confident that he will feature,” the former AC Milan boss told reporters. “We will not risk him, though.
“Cristiano always wants to play and I want him to play. But he is a professional and knows when he can’t.”
With a three-goal lead in hand, Madrid appear to have one foot in the semi-finals.
However, Ancelotti is taking nothing for granted, primarily because Dortmund will be buoyed by the return of star striker Robert Lewandowski from suspension.
“We are close to reaching the semis,” Ancelotti acknowledged. “It’s the biggest motivation you can have.
“But Lewandowski returning makes this a different game. His presence lifts his fellow players.”
Lewandowski scored all of Dortmund’s goals in their 4-1 first-leg victory over Madrid in last year’s semi-final tie between the two sides.