Valencia's Emery: Stopping Cristiano Ronaldo is key to beating Real Madrid

Posted Sunday, April 08, 2012 by Goal.com

Valencia coach Unai Emery insisted that his team had the chance to upset the odds and get a positive result against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, and saw controlling Cristiano Ronaldo as the difference between victory and defeat in Sunday's clash.

This weekend's meeting in the Spanish capital pits La Liga's leaders against the third-placed side, although with no less than 30 points separating the two few are backing Valencia to cause an upset against Jose Mourinho's pace-setters.

Emery, however, believes that the game is far from a foregone conclusion, and identified free-scoring Portugal international Cristiano as the key to Madrid's strategy.

"[Cristiano] has scored 35 goals, and keeping a hold on him has to be one of our targets. We have to be optimistic," the trainer told reporters in Saturday's press conference, adding that he was still confident of holding on to a Champions League qualification spot.

"We said that third place was not going to be an easy achievement, but we believe in that third place and we have the strength to stay there and not be scared if we lose it in a given moment.

"[Staying there] is the overwhelming priority."

Valencia know that third place will guarantee automatic entry into the group stage of the continental competition, but with Malaga and Levante both within three points they face a fight to stay in the all-important position.