• 'I'm not Real Madrid's saviour. I'm just a team player'
Cristiano Ronaldo has missed Real Madrid's last six games through injury. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images
Cristiano Ronaldo has called for patience – both from his Real Madrid team-mates and the Spanish club's fans – as he attempts to overcome an ankle injury.
The Portugal winger, who moved from Manchester United in the summer, has scored nine goals in seven appearances – all wins – since leaving England. But an ankle injury has forced him to the sidelines, where he has been watching his team-mates struggle.
"I've already missed some games to injury but it's not like I'm the saviour," said Ronaldo. "I'm just a player that will help the team to win, but the team needs to work. I think things will improve."
Ronaldo has missed the past six games, one of those being a 4-0 loss at Alcorcón in the first leg of the fourth round of the Copa del Rey. That result put the pressure on Real's coach Manuel Pellegrini, who has pleaded for more time.
When asked how much more time can be given to a team that spent more than €250m (£225m) in the summer for players such as Ronaldo, Kaká, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo said: "I don't know. 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. I'm certain – 100% certain – that the team will reach a high level, but that takes time."
Madrid trail the defending champions 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], who have a clear base of great players who go out playing the same way," 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."
Ronaldo also commented on the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who is expected to win the Ballon d'Or and Fifa player of the year titles held by the Portuguese. "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," he said. "When you play in a team under construction, it's much more difficult, and Barça has a team that for many years has been great."
However, Ronaldo is not ready to concede the league title just yet. "There are no favourites in my opinion," he said. "The truth is Barça 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."
Ronaldo remained positive when asked about his return to Real's side: "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.
"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," he 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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