Real Madrid President Perez: “We support Benitez”

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez addressed the media on Monday evening with Benitez’s position under severe scrutiny following Saturday’s embarrasing 4-0 defeat at home to rivals Barcelona.

Benitez succeeded Carlo Ancelotti in June but Real have stuttered during the early days of his tenure and have lost their last two matches to sit third in La Liga, six points behind leaders Barcelona and two behind Atletico Madrid. Fans waved white handkerchiefs – a gesture of goodbye aimed at Benitez – and chanted “president, resign”, shortly after Luis Suarez scored the fourth goal in Barcelona’s victory.

“I would just like to take this opportunity to support completely Rafa, who is an outstanding manager”, he told a news conference ahead of Arsenal’s must-win Champions League match versus Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday. Because we have to let him work.

“But I only talk about this moment”. “This is different.” But he added: “What happens between now and six months no one can say”. Some say that I have met with the president of PSG and Jorge Mendes, and they write that at the day of the game (El Clasico)!

“The players support this coach and the board of directors too”. Perez is confident the Spanish manager is still the right man to turnaround the current situation in the upcoming fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk on 25 November and their league visit to Eibar on 29 November.

Arsene Wenger has offered his backing to under-pressure Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.

“No coach has ever said that I have suggested anything to them since I have been here, the coach has full autonomy and plenty of power”, Perez said. The France legend certainly seems to be working the path up the Bernabeu management steps, progressing from assistant manager of the first team to the head coach of Real Madrid Castilla.

However, the 56-year-old pointed out that he is not planning to coach again until next summer and indicated that he will also consider coaching English Premier League club Chelsea and Ligue 1 team Paris Saint-Germain.

Perez however hinted that things could change by the end of the season.

“When I arrived at Real Madrid, he helped me a lot”.

“I am doing things little by little and I am in no rush”.