MADRID, Spain — Cristiano Ronaldo wants patience, both from his Real Madrid teammates and the Spanish club's demanding fans.
The Portugal winger, who moved to Madrid from Manchester United in the off-season, has scored nine goals in seven appearances - all wins - since leaving England. But an ankle injury has recently forced him to the sidelines, where he has been watching his star-studded team struggle.
"I've already missed some games to injury but it's not like I'm the saviour," Ronaldo said in an interview. "I'm just a player that will give to help the team to win, but the team needs to work. I think things will improve."
Ronaldo has missed Madrid's past six games, one of those being a 4-0 loss at Alcorcon in the first leg of the fourth round of the Copa del Rey. That result put pressure on coach Manuel Pellegrini, who has pleaded for more time.
But how much more time can be given to a team that spent more than 250 million euros (C$398 million) in the off-season for players such as Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso?
"I don't know, only time will tell," Ronaldo said in Spanish. "I can't say to you tomorrow, or after a month. I just hope it's as quickly as possible because if not we'll lose games or points and that's not good for the club or for us the players, either.
"It's difficult when we lose a game, or another with a little pressure, but that's normal and it's a club that's used to it and players should be ready for that."
The biggest factor for the early season sluggishness, Ronaldo believes, is the return of Madrid president Florentino Perez and his purchase of several new players.
"It's a club where you can't learn, you have to be ready when you arrive here and us players have to give our best to continue improving," Ronaldo said. "I'm certain - 100 per cent certain - that the team will reach a high level, but that takes time."
In the Spanish league, Madrid trails defending champion Barcelona by one point and Ronaldo believes the difference in experience has much to do with their contrasting starts.
"We know if we get better we'll reach a good level and we'll be able to fight against (Barcelona), which has a clear base foundation of great players who go out playing the same way with the same difference," he said. "Madrid is not like that. But, little by little, I'm confident the team will improve and we will play well. I'm sure of that."
Lionel Messi is one of Barcelona's best players, and the Argentina forward is the clear favourite to take Ronaldo's Golden Ball and FIFA Player of the Year titles away after helping his team become the first Spanish club to win three major trophies in a season.
Ronaldo said Barcelona's never-changing system is the main reason for that.
"He's got a great team at his back and it's a lot easier when you have so many great players of quality around you," Ronaldo said. "When you play in a team under construction, it's much more difficult and Barca has a team that for many years has been great."
Ronaldo, however, isn't ready to concede the league title to Barcelona just yet.
"They are no favourites in my opinion," Ronaldo said. "The truth is Barca is playing really well, playing better than us. That's the reality and people know that. But accounts are settled at the end of the season and I'm confident we're going to improve and we're going to fight to the end of the season."
Although surrounded by press managers, photographers and bodyguards, Ronaldo stayed calm when asked about getting back on the field.
"I'm very relaxed and will keep working in the same way that I did at Manchester and I know things will work out little by little and the team will get better," said the 24-year-old Ronaldo, who will also begin modelling Armani clothes alongside Hollywood actress Megan Fox.
Not even a foot injury and luxury clothes could keep Ronaldo from juggling a football, when his normally stoic demeanour dropped momentarily as he described his life in the Spanish capital.
"Life is very good. It's very similar to Portugal, I knew that before and I'm very happy here. It's a very lovely city," Ronaldo said. "It's totally different (from Manchester). Here there is almost always sun. The personality of the people are very different. The league, the food - almost everything is different and for that it's been a very radical change."
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