Zidane has been coaching Real Madrid Castilla for the last 18 months, but was deemed not ready for the step up after a disappointing first season in charge.
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Chants for Benitez to be dismissed echoed around the Bernabeu following the game, accompanied by similar complaints against long-standing club president Florentino Perez.
The Manchester United target has seemed desperately unhappy at Madrid since the exit of previous boss Carlo Ancelotti and it appears that he could now be pushed towards the exit.
MADRID (AP) – Real Madrid fans vividly showed their dissatisfaction, frantically waving white “goodbye” handkerchiefs and loudly jeering.
“For now I’m with Castilla and if I stayed at the club it was to manage Castilla”.
Sergio Ramos insists it is too early to label Real Madrid as failures as pressure mounts on manager Rafa Benitez in the wake of their thrashing at the hands of Barcelona.
The points will not mean much because Madrid is already through to the next round, but the game certainly will still be crucial for Benitez. The Colombian was, however, by no means the only one to blame for Real’s poor display, as Gareth Bale, playing through the centre behind Benzema, was also largely anonymous.
“I understand the unhappiness and the anger of the fan base with what happened on Saturday, but I ask them that they support the team”. Last year, I finished up feeling that there was something missing. I was accused of picking the team that [Milan president Silvio] Berlusconi wanted for years, and even in Madrid I was accused of naming the team according to the president’s desires.
Reports from Spain suggest after the defeat, talisman Cristiano Ronaldo said “Either he goes or I go”, fuelling rumours that the players have lost the respect of the Spanish tactician.
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It seems a culture clash is largely behind the disaffection with Benitez at the Bernabeu.
