Last year, at the end of the season, I had the feeling that I still lacked something to take over the first team.
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Speaking to RAI radio in his homland , Ancelotti played down any suggestion of a rift between Ronaldo and Benitez, but did question Madrid’s tactics against Barca.
However, the Independent highlighted that Benitez’s greatest opposition to his short term as Real Madrid’s manager comes from within his own squad, mainly from Ronaldo. “Let’s be slow with our judgments because we are just at the beginning”, the former AC Milan boss said. Benitez? It’s hard to judge from the outside.
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.
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.
Perez said he had spoken with Benitez, 55, immediately after the game and given him his backing, and denied he had received requests from players to sack the coach. When things aren’t going well, it’s obvious that the forwards have to suffer most.
“This is a problem for Real Madrid that will not change unless the whole idea and whole philosophy changes”.
“Since I arrived in 2000 there have been a lot of coaches and none have ever said that I have suggested anything to them”, he told reporters.
“My plan when I first started playing football was to try to reach the pinnacle – and Real Madrid is the pinnacle”, he told the Mirror.
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However, should Ronaldo go on the market, PSG remain firm favourites to land the superstar, having dined with Jorge Mendes and Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser El-Khelaifi just two days before El Clasico.
