--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo…" description: "\"Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they're still a very good team.\" — Niko Kovac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg" --- # Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not… ![“Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they're still a very good team.” quote by Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg) > “Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they're still a very good team.” [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A team can remain strong despite losing a star player, though its identity may change. **In simple terms:** Teams stay good without a star. Key Takeaway Value collective strength over individual fame. Themes teamwork identity performance Mood pragmatic analytical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - club management - fan expectations - media analysis Key Concepts sports dynamics leadership legacy Questions to Reflect On - How does a team maintain cohesion after a star leaves? - What defines a team's identity beyond its stars? A Different Perspective Overreliance on one player can mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Madrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madrid/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [If Real Madrid land on Manchester airport, then the airport will be surely flooded just to see one player whom fans want most. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-neville/if-real-madrid-land-on-manchester-airport-then-the-airport-will-be/) [Gary Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-neville/) > [While I was at Madrid, for me, Cristiano was the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xabi-alonso/while-i-was-at-madrid-for-me-cristiano-was-the-best/) [Xabi Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xabi-alonso/) > [Cristiano Ronaldo is good, but Messi is 10 times better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaas-jan-huntelaar/cristiano-ronaldo-is-good-but-messi-is-10-times-better/) [Klaas-Jan Huntelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaas-jan-huntelaar/) > [I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop Ronaldo is good but Messi is the best I’ve ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/i-was-a-big-fan-of-maradona-growing-up-and-of-the-current-crop/) [Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/) > [Cristiano is unlucky to be playing in the same era as Messi. Ronaldo is a very good player, but Messi is even better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-larsson/cristiano-is-unlucky-to-be-playing-in-the-same-era-as-messi-ronaldo/) [Henrik Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-larsson/) > [It's not only Van Dijk who can stop Ronaldo. But Ronaldo is good enough to create against really good defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/it-s-not-only-van-dijk-who-can-stop-ronaldo-but-ronaldo-is-good/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Ronaldinho is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither are as good as Leo Messi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-cassano/ronaldinho-is-better-than-cristiano-ronaldo-but-neither-are-as-good-2/) Antonio Cassano > [Ronaldinho is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither are as good as Leo Messi. He holds numerous records, such as the most goals scored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mourinho/ronaldinho-is-better-than-cristiano-ronaldo-but-neither-are-as-good/) [Jose Mourinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mourinho/) > [Real Madrid are one of the main teams in Europe. They are a team which has won the Champions League the most times, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/real-madrid-are-one-of-the-main-teams-in-europe-they-are-a-team-which/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [I know that I will always regret it later in life if I had turned down the chance to play at another great club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-know-that-i-will-always-regret-it-later-in-life-if-i-had-turned/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [In 2009, I accepted the proposal of Real Madrid, but I was completely destroyed there because I could not give what I had given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/in-2009-i-accepted-the-proposal-of-real-madrid-but-i-was-completely/) [Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/) > [Players when they're linked with Real Madrid, their eyes light up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/players-when-they-re-linked-with-real-madrid-their-eyes-light-up/) [Steve Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nicol/) > [I got my big break in the semi-final as a young kid against Real Madrid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/i-got-my-big-break-in-the-semi-final-as-a-young-kid-against-real/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [ The fact that an Englishman has an Argentinian as an idol is very rare. I keep watching my \[title-winning\] goal against QPR and every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aguero/the-fact-that-an-englishman-has-an-argentinian-as-an-idol-is-very/) [Sergio Aguero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aguero/) > [Real Madrid are Real Madrid, and any player would want to be at Real Madrid. Why would I want to leave Real Madrid? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-morata/real-madrid-are-real-madrid-and-any-player-would-want-to-be-at-real/) [Alvaro Morata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvaro-morata/) ## More by Niko Kovac > [I prefer the 4-2-3-1 formation and stick to it but have my own interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/i-prefer-the-4-2-3-1-formation-and-stick-to-it-but-have-my-own/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [We're all different, and we have to accept and tolerate each other's characteristics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/we-re-all-different-and-we-have-to-accept-and-tolerate-each-other-s/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [You can't manage every footballer the same. Of course you'd love to, but it doesn't work like that. We're not robots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/you-can-t-manage-every-footballer-the-same-of-course-you-d-love-to/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [For the top stars, it's just more appealing to go to the Premier League than to Bundesliga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/for-the-top-stars-it-s-just-more-appealing-to-go-to-the-premier/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [Of course, the attacking players get the attention because they score the goals, score nice goals, and those are the moments that remain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/of-course-the-attacking-players-get-the-attention-because-they-score/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [The players who play have to perform. If they don't, then they will be replaced. That has always been the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/the-players-who-play-have-to-perform-if-they-don-t-then-they-will-be/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [It is not for nothing that titles are decided at the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/it-is-not-for-nothing-that-titles-are-decided-at-the-back/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [When you fall, you always have the opportunity to get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/when-you-fall-you-always-have-the-opportunity-to-get-up/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [Everyone has their own taste, and you can argue about taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/everyone-has-their-own-taste-and-you-can-argue-about-taste/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [We were raised as Christians, and religion plays an important role for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/we-were-raised-as-christians-and-religion-plays-an-important-role-for/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [We want to win all of our matches and focus on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/we-want-to-win-all-of-our-matches-and-focus-on-ourselves/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [Fitness gives you confidence, and if you're fit, you don't have to wonder whether you'll last the 90 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/fitness-gives-you-confidence-and-if-you-re-fit-you-don-t-have-to/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [I can't play 50 players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/i-can-t-play-50-players/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [You build up the opponent, and you lose confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/you-build-up-the-opponent-and-you-lose-confidence/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) > [It's all about togetherness and to pay the other the necessary respect. If you do that, then we all would feel better. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/it-s-all-about-togetherness-and-to-pay-the-other-the-necessary/) [Niko Kovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) [Explore all 90 Niko Kovac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they're still a very good team.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niko Kovac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-are-of-course-not-what-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-are-of-course-not-what-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/niko-kovac-7534_good_real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-ar_1380789.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they're still a…” — Niko Kovac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Niko Kovac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niko-kovac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-are-of-course-not-what-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niko-kovac/real-madrid-without-cristiano-ronaldo-are-of-course-not-what-they/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```