Updated at 21.15
RAFAEL BENITEZ WILL remain in charge of Real Madrid for the time being, after receiving the backing of president Florentino Perez.
The Spanish coach has come under increased pressure in recent weeks following poor performances, with reports circulating that the players are unhappy with the current playing style.
Saturday’s 4-0 trouncing at home to fierce rivals Barcelona saw tension reach new heights, as the players were booed off the pitch by their own fans and speculation continued to mount on the coach, with many suggesting he could be sacked.
Captain Sergio Ramos immediately voiced his support of Benitez after the loss to Barca, and now Perez insisted at a press conference on Monday that the former Liverpool boss will hold onto his post. “We have had a board meeting and analysed the sporting situation at Real Madrid,” he told reporters. “Rafa has all our support and all our confidence.
“Rafa Benitez has all the ability and has only just started his job here. Let him keep working and he will achieve his objectives.
“The players did not lack attitude. The team played badly but we cannot question their attitude in such an important game.”
Earlier, Zinedine Zidane had dismissed talk of him replacing Benitez.
Zidane – coach of Real’s reserve team – denied he was in line to replace the Spaniard at the helm after his side drew 0-0 against Barakaldo.
“I am the coach of the Castilla [reserves]. Benitez is the first-team coach and things are fine as well,” he said.
“I’m happy with what we’ve done today with the Castilla against a difficult rival.
I stayed to train the Castilla. Last year I went away with the feeling that something was missing for me. I am stubborn and when the objective is not fulfilled it is necessary to do it.”
The French World Cup winner, who spent five seasons with the La Liga giants, admits he is still in the infant stages of his managerial career and is not looking too far ahead.
“I have a lot to learn but a trainer is never [fully] prepared,” Zidane added.
“I am doing this, like a player, little by little. I do no rush anything. The present is Castilla and we are going to continue like that.”
As much as I’d like to see zidane it’s a disgrace that Benitez is in this position so early. That club really is like no other. Seems like he was doomed to fail from the start.
I think a lot had to do with the opposition in front of them. And it was alot of there big players first game back for various reasons.
He was a joy to watch on the park..
Zidane’s going to be an insane manager, he’s been groomed for the job by ancelloti, mourinho and benetiz ..
I’m not convinced by Zizou the Manager just yet: his results with RM Castilla have been average at best. Maybe he’ll come good – he’s only had 18 months in the job – but he hasn’t shown the aptitude that, say, Guardiola or Luis Enrique did with Barça B as they began their careers.
Ronaldo was disgraceful on Saturday. He didn’t even look interested. Even if he doesn’t like Benitez, for his own self respect and more importantly for the fans he should at least try to look interested.
No denial there at all! Zizou wants that job.
Somebody needs to give Perez the dreaded vote of confidence! Seriously, how many managers have to be fired before Madridistas acknowledge the common factor in their appointments? Only at that joke shop of a club could a President with absolutely no clue about football dictate who’s played and when. He can’t claim that he didn’t know that Benitez was a defensive-minded manager, yet he’s forcing him to play in a completely different way. Why hire him in the first place? (other than having already hired every other manager, ever).
If Benitez is sacked Ronaldo may stay. Benitez should never have got this job in the first place, it was an incredible appointment. Here’s more on Ronaldo and Rafa:
http://whysayanything.com/2015/11/22/cristiano-ronaldo-to-united-why-would-he/