Cafu100
12-09-2001, 08:11 PM
Italy celebrates Ronaldo Day
Sunday 9th December 2001
Italy was united in praise of Ronaldo on Sunday after the Brazilian marksman put two years of pain behind him to score again in Serie A.
Ronaldo was reinstated as the spearhead of the Inter attack against Brescia alongside the in-form Christian Vieri, and he needed just 19 minutes to score his first Serie A goal since adding Inter's fifth in the 50th minute of a 6-0 thrashing of Lecce on 21 November, 1999.
Fittingly, it was his strike partner who set up the chance after a quick one-two with the Brazilian.
"I tried that play with Vieri a couple of minutes before scoring," Ronaldo said. "I asked him for the ball, and he placed it exactly where I wanted it. I saw the keeper come towards me and I shot right-footed. When I realised I had scored, I felt like a happy baby."
Vieri then went on to crown a perfect day for the Serie A leaders with two goals of his own as Hector Cuper's side retained their two-point lead at the top of the table.
Ronaldo received a standing ovation from both sets of supporters after scoring at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti then again when he was subsituted on 66 minutes.
"Fans of so many different teams celebrated after my goal and this is a good chance to say my thanks to all of them. During these long and sad months their love has helped me so much. After scoring I felt like a happy baby," Ronaldo said.
"I'm really happy and today is a wonderful day," Ronaldo beamed at the end of an emotional match. "I want to thank Mr Cuper who had faith in me and sent me on straight from the first minute.
"After that, it wasn't very difficult for me, because the team are so strong and played so well. All my team-mates helped me on the pitch.
"I'm also very happy about how well I play with Christian Vieri. We are able to understand each other with just a simple glance and it is unbelievable to play alongside him."
The patience of the Nerazzurri fans was tested to the full after a series of aborted returns that only heightened fears that the 25-year-old, who prior to this season boasted 42 goals in 58 Serie A starts, would not return as the player he once was.
Inter, however, refused to rush the striker back and it appears that patience, not a common trait at the San Siro, has paid off.
"I have strongly wished to play during these past few months, but we have had to wait for the right time," he added. "The long wait has helped me to recover my fitness as well and to be ready at a high level for this match."
Afterwards Rai television provided Ronaldo with the opportunity to hear the praise of his many well-wishers.
Luigi del Neri will take his side to the San Siro next week and the Chievo coach was thrilled to hear Ronaldo would be ready to play. "I'm proud of the fact that my Chievo will play against Ronaldo," he gushed. "And I can say that Italian football has recovered the best player in the world."
Even losing Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone was able to take pleasure in Ronaldo's strike. "I'm really happy," he said.
"If we had to concede a goal then I'm pleased it was Ronnie who scored it. I saw such a happiness on his face and saw him playing so perfectly. I think Ronaldo has come back as the real Ronaldo. I give him my best wishes."
Roma coach Fabio Capello, who whose side stay within touching distance of the leaders after beating Parma 2-1, thought Vieri had scored all three Inter goals, but with an eye on retaining the title, he was unable to stifle a groan at being put right by the RAI reporter.
"Really?" he asked. "I didn't know that – it is worse than I thought. So now they have two unbelievable strikers in their line up."
Then came the turn of Ronaldo's fellow Serie A strikers.
Gabriel Batistuta, who by his own admission is in the worst form of his life, said: "I asked RAI to allow me to speak with Ronaldo because I felt really happy when I heard about his goal. I played with him for just a few minutes years ago in Marseille in a match between Europe and America. Those few minutes were enough for me to understand what a marvellous player he is."
Piror to Sunday's match, the Brazilian had seen only 50 minutes action since coming back from damaging his knee in November 1999. Inter had every reason to be cautious. Since then, the striker made his return in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio the following April, but lasted only seven minutes before tearing a tendon in his knee.
Then in November, in his first start in a Serie A game for almost two years, he came off after 17 minutes with a thigh injury.
Sunday 9th December 2001
Italy was united in praise of Ronaldo on Sunday after the Brazilian marksman put two years of pain behind him to score again in Serie A.
Ronaldo was reinstated as the spearhead of the Inter attack against Brescia alongside the in-form Christian Vieri, and he needed just 19 minutes to score his first Serie A goal since adding Inter's fifth in the 50th minute of a 6-0 thrashing of Lecce on 21 November, 1999.
Fittingly, it was his strike partner who set up the chance after a quick one-two with the Brazilian.
"I tried that play with Vieri a couple of minutes before scoring," Ronaldo said. "I asked him for the ball, and he placed it exactly where I wanted it. I saw the keeper come towards me and I shot right-footed. When I realised I had scored, I felt like a happy baby."
Vieri then went on to crown a perfect day for the Serie A leaders with two goals of his own as Hector Cuper's side retained their two-point lead at the top of the table.
Ronaldo received a standing ovation from both sets of supporters after scoring at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti then again when he was subsituted on 66 minutes.
"Fans of so many different teams celebrated after my goal and this is a good chance to say my thanks to all of them. During these long and sad months their love has helped me so much. After scoring I felt like a happy baby," Ronaldo said.
"I'm really happy and today is a wonderful day," Ronaldo beamed at the end of an emotional match. "I want to thank Mr Cuper who had faith in me and sent me on straight from the first minute.
"After that, it wasn't very difficult for me, because the team are so strong and played so well. All my team-mates helped me on the pitch.
"I'm also very happy about how well I play with Christian Vieri. We are able to understand each other with just a simple glance and it is unbelievable to play alongside him."
The patience of the Nerazzurri fans was tested to the full after a series of aborted returns that only heightened fears that the 25-year-old, who prior to this season boasted 42 goals in 58 Serie A starts, would not return as the player he once was.
Inter, however, refused to rush the striker back and it appears that patience, not a common trait at the San Siro, has paid off.
"I have strongly wished to play during these past few months, but we have had to wait for the right time," he added. "The long wait has helped me to recover my fitness as well and to be ready at a high level for this match."
Afterwards Rai television provided Ronaldo with the opportunity to hear the praise of his many well-wishers.
Luigi del Neri will take his side to the San Siro next week and the Chievo coach was thrilled to hear Ronaldo would be ready to play. "I'm proud of the fact that my Chievo will play against Ronaldo," he gushed. "And I can say that Italian football has recovered the best player in the world."
Even losing Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone was able to take pleasure in Ronaldo's strike. "I'm really happy," he said.
"If we had to concede a goal then I'm pleased it was Ronnie who scored it. I saw such a happiness on his face and saw him playing so perfectly. I think Ronaldo has come back as the real Ronaldo. I give him my best wishes."
Roma coach Fabio Capello, who whose side stay within touching distance of the leaders after beating Parma 2-1, thought Vieri had scored all three Inter goals, but with an eye on retaining the title, he was unable to stifle a groan at being put right by the RAI reporter.
"Really?" he asked. "I didn't know that – it is worse than I thought. So now they have two unbelievable strikers in their line up."
Then came the turn of Ronaldo's fellow Serie A strikers.
Gabriel Batistuta, who by his own admission is in the worst form of his life, said: "I asked RAI to allow me to speak with Ronaldo because I felt really happy when I heard about his goal. I played with him for just a few minutes years ago in Marseille in a match between Europe and America. Those few minutes were enough for me to understand what a marvellous player he is."
Piror to Sunday's match, the Brazilian had seen only 50 minutes action since coming back from damaging his knee in November 1999. Inter had every reason to be cautious. Since then, the striker made his return in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio the following April, but lasted only seven minutes before tearing a tendon in his knee.
Then in November, in his first start in a Serie A game for almost two years, he came off after 17 minutes with a thigh injury.