REAL Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo apologised to his team-mates and said he hopes to learn from his mistakes after being sent off for two needless bookings against Almeria tonight.
Ronaldo, starting his first home match in more than two months having recovered from his ankle injury, was at the centre of a hugely eventful match that Madrid eventually won 4-2.
Not only did Ronaldo set up Madrid's first goal, he also scored their last, controversially won and then missed a penalty, before picking up two yellow cards in the final four minutes.
The first was for removing his shirt in celebration of his goal and then, soon after, he was shown a second yellow card for kicking Juanma Ortiz following a tussle by the touchline.
That red card means the Portugal international is now set to be suspended for next weekend's tough trip to fourth-placed Valencia.
Ronaldo was quoted as saying after the match by AS: "Taking off my shirt was an instinctive reaction. I know that I made a mistake but I'm human. I didn't want to do it.
"These are things that happen in football and I hope to learn from them. I've apologised to my team-mates.
"I'm sad that I won't be able to face (Valencia defender) Miguel, my team-mate with Portugal."
Regarding the incident involving Ortiz, Ronaldo added: "I won't lie, I hit him. I said sorry to him."
The world's most expensive player also spoke about his lack of celebration for Karim Benzema's crucial goal in the 83rd-minute, a strike that helped Madrid establish a 3-2 lead.
Benzema crashed the ball home after Ronaldo had seen his penalty saved by Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves, who will have felt justice was done after conceding what was a debatable spot-kick.
The Brazilian looked to have got a hand on the ball as Ronaldo attempted to round him before the £80million man went crashing to the ground, but the referee ignored the Almeria team's protests and awarded the penalty.
Explaining why he did not join his team-mates in congratulating Benzema, Ronaldo said: "I was angry. I missed the penalty. I don't like to lose and I don't like to miss.
"My reaction is always going to be like that. I'm a professional but neither will I give up and I felt happy for Karim's goal and for mine."
Not only did Ronaldo set up Madrid's first goal, he also scored their last, controversially won and then missed a penalty, before picking up two yellow cards in the final four minutes.
The first was for removing his shirt in celebration of his goal and then, soon after, he was shown a second yellow card for kicking Juanma Ortiz following a tussle by the touchline.
That red card means the Portugal international is now set to be suspended for next weekend's tough trip to fourth-placed Valencia.
Ronaldo was quoted as saying after the match by AS: "Taking off my shirt was an instinctive reaction. I know that I made a mistake but I'm human. I didn't want to do it.
"These are things that happen in football and I hope to learn from them. I've apologised to my team-mates.
"I'm sad that I won't be able to face (Valencia defender) Miguel, my team-mate with Portugal."
Regarding the incident involving Ortiz, Ronaldo added: "I won't lie, I hit him. I said sorry to him."
The world's most expensive player also spoke about his lack of celebration for Karim Benzema's crucial goal in the 83rd-minute, a strike that helped Madrid establish a 3-2 lead.
Benzema crashed the ball home after Ronaldo had seen his penalty saved by Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves, who will have felt justice was done after conceding what was a debatable spot-kick.
The Brazilian looked to have got a hand on the ball as Ronaldo attempted to round him before the £80million man went crashing to the ground, but the referee ignored the Almeria team's protests and awarded the penalty.
Explaining why he did not join his team-mates in congratulating Benzema, Ronaldo said: "I was angry. I missed the penalty. I don't like to lose and I don't like to miss.
"My reaction is always going to be like that. I'm a professional but neither will I give up and I felt happy for Karim's goal and for mine."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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