Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at former boss José Mourinho with a man-of-the-match display to help Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3-1 and win the Guinness International Champions Cup.
Much of the buildup to Wednesday's encounter surrounded the exchange of words between Mourinho and Ronaldo in the days leading up to this affair.
Ronaldo, though, declined to engage in a slanging match with his fellow Portuguese off the pitch, telling the press: "I prefer to remember the good things from coaches. I don't spit on the plate from which I eat and I don't speak about people who say bad things about me."
And the former World Player of the Year decided to let his football do the talking and give his former coach one more dazzling display of his skills.
Marcelo had broken the deadlock for the Spanish side in the 14th minute, but the Blues hit back within two minutes through Ramires.
However, Madrid restored their advantage courtesy of a trademark Ronaldo free-kick just after the half-hour mark.
Ronaldo was the recipient of a hard tackle from behind by Branislav Ivanović 25 yards from goal.
The 28-year-old picked himself up and curled a sublime free-kick over the wall that Petr Čech could not keep out despite getting a glove to the ball.
Ronaldo then cockily turned in Mourinho's direction and pointed to himself as if to say, "Who's the 'real' Ronaldo now, José?"
The ex-Manchester United star completed the scoring on 57 minutes with a superbly timed run and header past Čech.
After the final whistle, though, Ronaldo insisted that his goal celebration was not in any way directed toward Mourinho.
He told reporters: "I don't worry about the other people.
"I only concentrate on what happens on the field. What happens outside the field does not affect me. My only job is to help Real Madrid."
Meanwhile, Mourinho felt both Ronaldo goals could have been avoided.
The Chelsea manager said: "He's a great player and has scored goals all his life. When he scores it's not big news, when he doesn't it is.
"We made two mistakes for both goals. For the first, we gave away a free-kick in a position where he's happy to have it and then the second goal, I told the players with every cross he likes to try to get into space because he's good in the air."
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| Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo scores a goal against Chelsea from a free-kick Photo: Getty Images |
Much of the buildup to Wednesday's encounter surrounded the exchange of words between Mourinho and Ronaldo in the days leading up to this affair.
In an interview with ESPN last weekend, Mourinho said that aged 30, he had coached "Ronaldo, not this one (Cristiano), the real one, the Brazilian Ronaldo" in his time as assistant coach at Barcelona.
Ronaldo, though, declined to engage in a slanging match with his fellow Portuguese off the pitch, telling the press: "I prefer to remember the good things from coaches. I don't spit on the plate from which I eat and I don't speak about people who say bad things about me."
And the former World Player of the Year decided to let his football do the talking and give his former coach one more dazzling display of his skills.
Marcelo had broken the deadlock for the Spanish side in the 14th minute, but the Blues hit back within two minutes through Ramires.
However, Madrid restored their advantage courtesy of a trademark Ronaldo free-kick just after the half-hour mark.
Ronaldo was the recipient of a hard tackle from behind by Branislav Ivanović 25 yards from goal.
The 28-year-old picked himself up and curled a sublime free-kick over the wall that Petr Čech could not keep out despite getting a glove to the ball.
Ronaldo then cockily turned in Mourinho's direction and pointed to himself as if to say, "Who's the 'real' Ronaldo now, José?"
The ex-Manchester United star completed the scoring on 57 minutes with a superbly timed run and header past Čech.
 | |
| Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal against Chelsea Photo: YouTube |
After the final whistle, though, Ronaldo insisted that his goal celebration was not in any way directed toward Mourinho.
He told reporters: "I don't worry about the other people.
"I only concentrate on what happens on the field. What happens outside the field does not affect me. My only job is to help Real Madrid."
Meanwhile, Mourinho felt both Ronaldo goals could have been avoided.
The Chelsea manager said: "He's a great player and has scored goals all his life. When he scores it's not big news, when he doesn't it is.
"We made two mistakes for both goals. For the first, we gave away a free-kick in a position where he's happy to have it and then the second goal, I told the players with every cross he likes to try to get into space because he's good in the air."
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- Cristiano Ronaldo shares tender embrace with pitch invader
- Goal of the day: Robin Quaison (AIK) vs Man United
- José Mourinho: Real Madrid is politics - not about football nor sport!
- Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Bournemouth fan's wrist with wayward free-kick
- José Mourinho: Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he knows everything!
