Madrid, April 13 (IANS): Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos praised his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star forward's hat-trick against Wolfsburg ensured the Spanish football giants' qualification for the European Champions League semi-finals.
Ramos on Tuesday said Ronaldo is always important, indicating that "as our goal scorer and our icon, he deserved a magical night", reports Efe.
Ronaldo's hat-trick powered Real Madrid to a 3-0 win Tuesday night over Wolfsburg to send the Whites to the Champions League semi-finals for the sixth straight year.
After losing 0-2 to the German club in last week's quarter-final first leg at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena, Real Madrid took the field at the Santiago Bernabeu knowing that they had 90 minutes to hold onto their hopes of winning a trophy this season.
"We don't need to flatter him anymore, he's a man who gives everything for this badge and he's been showing for a long time that he is the number one and when he's on form the team notices it," Ramos added.
The Spanish defender admitted that the 10-time Champions League winners should have made a comeback after losing the first leg, noting that "the love and confidence of the fans" were fundamental from the start in the second leg.
"The fans were incredible. We couldn't stop running and we owe it to them for the support that they have given us," Ramos pointed out.
On the potential rival in the Champions League semi-finals, Ramos said his side will have to prepare well and analyze opponents and respect them.
"In a competition like the Champions League you can't choose, the best are here," Ramos explained according to the club official website.