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By Iain Rogers

MADRID, March 15 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation in Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16, second leg at home to Olympique Lyon on Wednesday still hangs in the balance, coach Jose Mourinho said.

The joint La Liga top scorer has missed Real’s last two matches with a leg muscle strain and Mourinho said he would decide after training later on Tuesday whether to include his Portuguese compatriot in the squad.

Lyon, who have not lost to the nine-times European champions in seven meetings and knocked them out at the same stage last season, fought back to draw 1-1 in last month’s first leg in France, although Real will be firm favourites to advance having won all their home games this term.

“I need to consult the medical department for a final opinion and to hear how the player himself feels, his final feelings in training,” Mourinho said at a news conference at Real’s vast facility outside Madrid.

“I am not going to wait until tomorrow,” the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager added.

“I don’t like deciding the day of the match. I like to have everything clear in my head the day before. If he is fine he’ll obviously play but we have to wait a bit longer to see.”

Real hired Mourinho at the end of last season after he led Serie A side Inter to an unprecedented treble of domestic Italian league and cup and Champions League.

A 10th European crown has remained out of reach since their last title in 2002 and they have failed to progress to the quarter-finals of the continent’s elite competition the past six seasons.

They limped out of last year’s edition when Lyon snatched a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu to progress 2-1 on aggregate.

Mourinho said Real should not obsess about winning their 10th title as even if they failed in the competition this season there was always next year.

“You have to remain calm,” he said. “We have to fight hard to make it this year of course but if not then next.

“It’s not a serious problem. A serious problem is what is happening in Japan, not getting to the Champions League final.”

(Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: clash, Fitness, Reuters, Ronaldo, sweating

Argentina coach Sergio Batista declared that he was pleased with his side's 2-1 victory over  Portugal tonight in Geneva, and singled out match-winner Lionel Messi and debutant Marcos Rojo for special praise.

A last minute penalty from Messi won the encounter for the Albiceleste, after a goal from Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo had canceled out Angel di Maria's opener.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, 'Checho' praised his men for triumphing in a tough fixture, against a Portugal side that battled for the entire 90 minutes.

"We are still lacking a little bit of depth, but in general the team is looking good," Batista began, before praising the attitude of his squad and promising that "things still need to be corrected."

The coach moved on to talk about 'La Pulga', who scored one and set one up in the game, and asserted that he would place him ahead of 'CR7'.

"I enjoy watching the two, but for me it seemed that today Lionel was a step above."

Batista finished by praising new boy Rojo.

"I liked how he handled himself tonight, it is never easy marking a player like Nani."

The hero of the hour Messi also commented on the game, and remarked that he had a good feeling about how he and the national team were progressing.

"I felt great. We played a great game. We tried our best on a terrible pitch," the playmaker told reporters in the mixed zone.

"We know exactly what our tactics and game-plan are. We have won our last few matches and we have to continue in the same fashion."

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Labels: Above, Argentina, Batista, coach, Cristiano, Goalcom, Lionel, Messi, Ronaldo, Sergio, Tonight

Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano believes the heir to Alfredo Di Stefano is Cristiano Ronaldo, not Barcelona's Lionel Messi as Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores labeled him.

Sanchez Flores saw the Argentine international score a hat-trick against his side on Saturday evening, but Valdano has rebuffed those comments, saying it is the Portuguese superstar who deserves the mantle.

"It is not Messi, it is Cristiano Ronaldo, who what is more wears the same shirt," Valdano said, as reported by Eurosport. "He is a very important player who is set to make history at this club.

"We wouldn’t swap Cristiano for anyone, although one must recognize that both he and Messi are two very high-quality players whom it is a privilege to have in La Liga."

Ronaldo scored twice in the Blancos' 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on the weekend.

Di Stefano scored 418 goals in 510 matches for Los Merengues, helping the Spanish side win the first five European Cups between 1956 and 1960.

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Labels: Alfredo, believes, Cristiano, Director, General, Goalcom, Jorge, Madrid, Ronaldo, Stefano, Valdano

SAO PAULO (AP)—Former Brazil star Ronaldo says he thought about retiring from football after his team’s own fans attacked Corinthians’ bus as players arrived for practice following their elimination from the Copa Libertadores.

The fans threw rocks and attacked the bus on Saturday, one day before Corinthians’ match against rival Palmeiras.

Ronaldo said on Twitter that in the past few days he “really thought” about retirement, but decided he “would not give this pleasure to critics and vandals.”

The striker says he was disappointed with the team’s performance against Deportes Tolima in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday in Colombia, but condemned the violent protest by fans.

Ronaldo has previously said he plans to retire at the end of the year.

Labels: about, after, retiring, Ronaldo, thought, violence