Real Madrid coach Benitez: No problem with Ronaldo. Players believe in me

The weekend’s Clasico saw Barça crush Real Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabeu, but the Coach insists they can still improve.

In his first public address since the defeat on November 25, Perez denied rumors that he had received requests from players to sack coach Rafael Benitez or that he had influenced the team selection for the game in any way.

Ancelotti was asked about Benzema in an interview with RMC Sport and the former Madrid boss said: “For me, he’s a great number nine, a great all-rounder really”.

Benitez has a three-year contract with the Spanish giants but should he depart Real Madrid will be searching for their 14th manager in 15 years.

“We had a bad match – everyone can see that”.

The 55-year-old dismissed reports the Portuguese, the Spanish club’s record goalscorer, was unhappy playing under him. He has never said to me that with Rafa Benitez we aren’t going to win anything either.

“Losing like this and against a rival like Barcelona hurts us a lot”.

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.

While Ancelotti said that a number of young player from Italy have caught his eye, it is Marco Veratti, the one who does not ply his trade in the Serie A, who he thinks is the best Italian football player right now.

“I’ve already said that I want to wait until the end of the season to return to management, and I won’t change my decision”.

Finallly although Sevilla’s Champions League options have all but vanished, Unai Emery’s side play Borussia Munchegladbach aiming to assure a place in the Europa League for after Christmas.

“He has a good relationship with the players, with the board, and me in particular”.

Messi contributed to Suarez’s second goal with a pass to Jordi Alba which allowed the left-back to release Suarez on goal, and the striker smiled: “We wanted Leo to score a goal”.