Under-fire Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has the full support and confidence of the club, president Florentino Perez has confirmed.
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Real Madrid won’t be sacking their manager despite Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing to Barcelona in El Clasico.
Facing widespread criticism for a game plan that seemed to fail calamitously, the Madrid press have not held back in blaming Benitez for a second straight defeat that left them six points adrift of their arch rivals at the top of La Liga.
Under-pressure Benitez thanked Real’s president Florentino Perez for his vote of confidence on Monday, and told a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League Group A game against Shakhtar Donetsk there are “no conflicts” with Ronaldo.
“He was picked for his professionalism, his achievements, his experience and his ability”.
“Let him work, the victories will come”, he added.
Regarding the whistles and shouts at the Bernabeu calling for his resignation he said that “I have respect for every manifestation of the club, the members and the fans. I have been in football for many years and perfectly understand that two defeats can not result into firing”.
“Even when we are doing well we are criticised – people say things which have not happened”.
“I don’t know if you are capable of being sure that you’re going to still be working where you work in a few weeks’ time”, Perez told reporters.
He said: “It’s interesting for starters that he needs to say that”.
Ancelotti, who was replaced by the Spaniard as Madrid coach at the end of last season, has admitted that he would not rule out returning to his former club, where he won the Champions League in 2014.
Benitez said he appreciated president Perez having publicly backed him, although he had never feared he would be sacked. And at that point he was quite clear that Ancelotti was about to leave.
“Rafa has only just started his job here”.
“We have had a board meeting and analysed the sporting situation at Real Madrid and Rafa has all our support and all our confidence”, he said.
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Real Madrid hired Benitez in June after firing Carlo Ancelotti, who led the club to the UEFA Champions League title in 2013-14 and was popular among leading players.
