Benitez future in doubt at Real Madrid

Zidane scored a sensational winning goal to hand Madrid the 2002 Champions League as a player, but is short on managerial experience having only ever taken charge of Madrid’s feeder team Castilla.

“I’m more emotional now than when I signed as a player”, said the 43-year-old French, who finished his career at Real Madrid in 2006. Even a couple montha ago, Perez himself had a press conference and said that they believen in their coach and they know that he will be able to deliver better results.

Zidane was ultimately preferred to the available Jose Mourinho because president Perez felt that the Portuguese would divide the Bernabeu.

Madrid’s next match is at Granada on Sunday in the 22nd round of the Spanish league.

Real are third in La Liga following a 2-2 draw with Valencia last night, four points behind leaders and city rivals Atletico and two points behind Barcelona, after 18 games.

Zidane said: “Firstly, I’d like to express my gratitude to the club and to you, president, for giving me the opportunity to coach this team”.

Another former Madrid man, Xabi Alonso, wished Zidane “luck”, tweeting: “Suerte Zizou!!”, while Didier Drogba, like the Frenchman, a United Nations Development Programme ambassador, tweeted: “Good luck, big bro”. “Someone with drive, passion and also doesn’t accept failure on any level”. Perez had publicly backed Benitez despite growing pressure in recent weeks which saw him routinely jeered by his own fans, but he is believed to have finally bowed to the will of the players and supporters. The Spaniard was sacked for failing to end a crisis of confidence at Madrid that started with an unforgivable 4-0 loss to Barcelona in November.

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In the last month Madrid looked to have eased some of the heat on Benitez with an 8-0 Champions League victory over Malmo and a 10-2 Primera Division mauling of Rayo Vallecano – but the club have now decided enough is enough.

As a player, the former France worldwide won La Liga and the Champions League in a five-year stint with the club. Benitez’s relationship with the dressing room has also failed to improve with key players such as Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez often showing their disgust at being substituted.