Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro says nobody should try and "dramatise" the whistling of Cristiano Ronaldo during last Saturday's 5-0 La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
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Ronaldo, 29, was whistled late in the game after he had gone for goal himself rather than pass to the unmarked Alvaro Morata. The incident symbolised frustration among Madrid fans as, even though their side was easily beating Rayo, recent defeats to Barcelona and Sevilla have seen Carlo Ancelotti's men lose their status as favourites for the title and become outsiders.
The reigning Ballon d’Or holder was reportedly affected by the barracking, with sources close to the player briefing Marca on Monday that he was upset and angered with what had happened, given he has scored 44 goals in all competitions for Madrid this season.
Hierro told AS that such isolated events could happen in football, and there was no need to read too much into them.
“These are normal things and there is no need to be dramatic about it,” the former Blancos defender said. “These are the demands of the club, of the best team in history. The demands of Real Madrid are like that. We all know the importance of Cristiano, who represents all the values of Madridismo. It was just one move, these things happen in football.”
Madrid's fans will be back behind Ronaldo again in Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Borussia Dortmund, Hierro predicted.
“This stadium has seen the best players in history pass through, and it makes these demands, for better or worse,” he said. “I hope that on Wednesday they applaud him because he scores two goals. I have no doubt at all that they will applaud him.”
Ronaldo has scored in his last 10 games for club and country, despite other reports -- again coming from the player's camp -- which said he was currently playing while suffering pain from a tendonitis problem in his left knee.