What Would It Take for Real Madrid to Sack Rafa Benitez?
The fallout from Real Madrid’s 4-0 crushing at the hands of fierce rivals Barcelona is threatening to cause a rift among Rafa Benitez’s camp as the club comes to terms with their heaviest El Clasico defeat since 2009.
Despite two consecutive defeat against Barcelona and Sevilla, Real Madrid are third in La Liga table, just six points behind the Catalan side, while they top their Champions League group ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. “He was the coach that we picked for his professionalism, his trajectory and his experience”. But we must let him work – not listen to those making up lies that board doesn’t want him.
However, Benitez’s start to life at the Bernabeu hasn’t gone to plan and he is already under pressure from fans and is reportedly facing a player revolt led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who incidentally had a magnificent relationship with Ancelotti. “I understand the anger of the fans, but I am asking for support for the coach and the squad”.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager succeeded Carlo Ancelotti last summer and was unbeaten in his first 14 matches after signing a three-year contract at Real.
Benitez is the man who approved the historic US$130 million deal that brought the player from Wales to Manchester.
Former Real Madrid great Zinedine Zidane had been installed as the favourite to replace Benitez when doubts surrounded his future.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague had earlier told Sky Sports News he believed Perez would offer his support to Benitez, but after the vote of confidence, Balague questioned whether it was as concrete as it might have sounded, given the lack of long-term guarantees.
“I am coach of Castilla (the reserves) and Benitez of the first team. Things are fine at the moment”, insisted Zidane.
Ancelotti admitted that he has already received calls from several clubs, but he reiterated that he is planning to take a year off. He said that he has learned lessons before when he took coaching gigs while the season is ongoing.
Names will be mentioned of future players, and make a list of the best players in the world and they will be linked to Real in the next few months – Aguero, Hazard..
Tuesday will see the Madrid fist team fly to the Ukraine to play Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.