Rafael Benitez has expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to manage Real Madrid and wished his successor Zinedine Zidane well.
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Spanish media have said that Zidane, a controversial appointment whose only previous coaching job was in charge of Real’s B team Castilla, will have his work cut out because of a lack of experience. It has to be offensive football, balanced and nothing else.
“I want to communicate this as a coach, that the players enjoy themselves on the pitch, as they did for sure with Rafa Benitez”.
“A lot of the players at Real Madrid are not playing as a team, they are playing for themselves and he has been brought up with the concept of a team to work well”, he said.
“As president it is an honour to have you at my side because I know for you the word impossible doesn’t exist”, Perez said.
“Apparently, Mourinho did not like to come at this time of the season and Zidane was here so we will have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks”.
“I understand that Gareth could be annoyed by Rafa’s departure because he was a very important coach in his career”, Zidane said.
Guardiola was also a star player in the Catalan capital before becoming their most successful coach ever during a trophy-laden four-year spell in charge at the Camp Nou.
Benitez was sacked after seven months as coach with Real third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind champions Barcelona. “They were experienced coaches so it was important to learn from them”.
Zidane highlighted that maintaining good relations with the players represents the starting line from which he will lead the team, which includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, in a clear reference to the attacking nature of the team. We are in the last 16 and the target always is to win the Champions League and I will try to make that possible.
“I have motivation, hope and all that will help me and help everything to go well”.
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And captain Sergio Ramos failed to offer a strong sign of support for Benitez when given the chance after the 2-2 draw at Valencia on Sunday that proved to be his last game.
