Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has backed coach Rafa Benitez despite Saturday’s humiliating 4-0 drubbing at home to bitter rivals Barcelona in the first clasico of the Spanish league season.
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Goal also quoted the former Real and Barcelona player, reporting that he told the assembled press that Argentine star Lionel Messi was back to fitness and ready to take the pitch again after coming on as a second half substitute on Saturday.
Real president Florentino Perez has called a press conference for 6.30pm this evening Irish time, with speculation that Benitez could be relieved of his duties.
Benitez, who only joined Real in the summer, has the full “support and confidence” of the board despite the position of their side six points adrift of Barca and third in La Liga.
“We are all responsible and now we have to show unity in order to win the next game and give the fans something to be happy about, which is something we failed to do (against Barcelona)”, the 55-year-old Benitez said. The team has been on the decline since January, that’s why we brought in Benitez.
“He needs time. Many players have been out injured for two months”.
“Let him work, the victories will come”, he added.
“I have experience and a lot of confidence in the fact that two defeats wasn’t going to change all the good that we have done”.
I’m the coach of Castilla and Benitez is in charge of the first team.
Some reports suggested he may call for early presidential elections to determine the support of the fans but Perez said: “The board has not said not even one word about elections”.
“Perhaps Ancelotti should have stayed, but it’s useless to talk about it”, the former Netherlands midfielder said, according to Marca. “They make a living out of lying, to destabilise me and Real Madrid, and I won’t allow it”, he concluded. Real’s next outing is Wednesday’s Champions League Group A match at Shakhtar Donetsk. Perez said: “Ronaldo has never said, “With this coach we will never win”.
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As noted by Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, there is a growing feeling that Benitez has lost the support and faith of the players. “I can assure that Benitez has a good relationship with the squad”.
