Assistant Coach of the senior national team [Black Stars], Maxwell Konadu believes Portugal marksman Cristiano Ronaldo will not be a threat when the Black Stars take on the Portuguese in their final group G game at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia.
Ronaldo who is yet to score at this year’s FIFA World Cup will lead coach Paulo Bento’s side against the Black Stars on Thursday in a game which will see A Selecção das Quinas necessitate all three points in order to enhance their chances into the next round if only manage to beat Ghana convincingly with other results going their favor.
The 29-year-old Ronaldo pulled out one of his trade marks last Sunday when he provided a perfect cross for Silvestre Varela to score in their 2-2 draw with the USA.
The reigning World footballer of the year has become the man to watch in the crucial encounter on Thursday as many Ghanaian football enthusiasts have described the Real Madrid man as a threat to the Ghana team.
But the deputy trainer of the Stars believes the former Manchester United attacker is yet to find his rhythm at the World Cup and would not be a peril for the Black Stars as many have described.
“We know that he is the best player in the World but that hasn’t yet shown in the World Cup. We know he is a fantastic player but he is yet to even play 60-70 percent of the Ronaldo we know”, Maxwell Konadu told press men.
“Base on that we will also capitalize on that and try to work it in our favor. We will do all we can to beat Portugal”, he added.
A win over Portugal and a favorable results between Germany and the USA will see Ghana advancing to the knockout stage for a third successive time after reaching the round of 16 and last 8 at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments respectively.