Cross: I’m Not Considering Managing the First Team for Now; Ronaldo Was Always Already There When I Arrived at Training

Real Madrid legend Cross admitted during a chat with his compatriot tennis star Zverev that if he were a tennis player, he would not have retired so early.

Cross said: “So I quickly found the fun in tennis. If I were a tennis player, I probably wouldn’t have retired this early. I always wanted to end my career at the highest level. I’ve played with many top players, but very few can achieve this. There were still some changes along the way. Years of flying and being away from home made me feel tired. Maybe in five years, I’ll say it was too early, but now I feel good.”

“In tennis, you can decide whether to bring your wife and children to competitions. You can decide on your team members, who sits in the stands, and even who sleeps in your bed the night before the match. But this doesn’t exist in team sports. This August, I went on vacation for the first time. And now, after dropping my kids off at school, I drive home instead of going to the training ground. I’m not interested in managing the first team for now; I’ll focus on the youth academy for the time being.”

When discussing the key to Real Madrid’s success, Cross indicated that Real Madrid has always handled things very smartly. He said: “We always need to replace many excellent players, but then new young players are ready to step up, one after another. The key is not just about strength in the legs, but also in the mind.”

“Ronaldo was already there when I arrived at the training ground and was still there when I left. We all want to win titles and score goals, but for him, scoring is a positive addiction. I dare say this is what he wants in Saudi Arabia as well.”