Ancelotti: Ramos rests, Ronaldo plays

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday that he would allow Sergio Ramos to sit out his side's game at home to Espanyol on Saturday afternoon, but insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo is not suffering from a knee injury.

Ronaldo only played the last 30 minutes of Real Madrid's 2-0 defeat away to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Ancelotti put the decision down to allowing the striker to rest and despite rumors he has suffered a reoccurrence of the knee problem which dogged him in the second half of last season, the coach has not changed his story.

"I've spoken to Cristiano as I do with the rest of the players and I make the decisions I feel are necessary. Before the cup game he was tired and I felt he needed a rest. He's match fit and will play," said Ancelotti.

"We've not spoken about the state of his knees as there is no problem with them," he added.

While Ronaldo will play, Ramos, who was at fault for the goal which saw Madrid lose in Valencia a week ago and committed the penalty which allowed Atletico to open the scoring on Wednesday, will rest as he looks to recover from a back problem.

"He had a slight injury at the end of the Club World Championship and it could get worse. He'll take time out tomorrow and be back for the cup game," said the coach, who said he would make no further changes to his side.

Ancelotti was also asked about possible signings during the winter transfer window, but said that with Sami Khedira fit again and Luka Mordic expected back in a month the club "didn't need players in the transfer window." Endi