Rafa Benitez is determinedly presenting an image of a united dressing room as Real Madrid return to action following the international break with today’s home clash against lowly Levante.
The last game before the break saw Los Blancos squander a 1-0 advantage to settle for a share of the spoils in the Madrid derby against Atletico, leading to heavy criticism of Benitez’s supposedly negative tactics during the game.
One of the biggest talking points was the substitution of in-form Karim Benzema, who had earlier scored his team’s goal and subse- quently made plain his frustration at being regularly sacrificed by Benitez for more defensive players.
Rumours of a rift between the experienced coach and senior members of the squad were further intensified when Benitez publicly criticised Sergio Ramos for his defensive lapse to concede a penalty against Atletico, which was saved by Keylor Navas.
But looking ahead to this evenings’s meeting at the Bernabeu, Benitez insisted there are no problems in his relationships with the squad, claiming any disagreements have been distorted and amplified by unnamed external forces.
“There are certain people who are not interested in things going well for Real Madrid, and who want to destabilise us,” he said. “They invent debates which could confuse true Madrid fans. Some people believe things which are not true.”
Another unwanted distraction for Benitez came from Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett, who used a British newspaper to suggest there is antipathy between his client and star player Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benitez added: “The atmosphere within the squad is very good. The players are competitive but they get on well and there are no problems.
“I can’t control what agents say, but we have to be united and the players know it. We are focused on our objectives.”
On the field of play, Benitez’s team are heading into a demanding phase of the season which will dictate the mood at the Bernabeu ahead of the first Clasico against Barcelona at the end of November.
Madrid will play six games in the next 21 days, including testing league trips to Celta Vigo and Sevilla as well as two Champions League clashes with Paris Saint-Germain.
In that context – and especially after the disappointing draw with Atletico – Los Blancos desperately need a convincing win this evening against a Levante side who have just won one of their opening seven games, although that came against leaders Villarreal in their last outing.
Benitez is missing several key performers, with James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Benzema all sidelined following injuries sustained on international duty, while Ramos is a doubt with a shoulder problem.
Benitez said: “Every team is suffering a lot of injuries. When there are so many international games, the risk is higher.”
And reminding his team to focus solely on their task of collecting three points today, he added: “Levante are tactically strong, and we will have to play with speed, precision and patience. They are a well organised team with clear ideas on how to play. It is vital that we are tight and maintain continuity from the opening moment.”
Dressing room disharmony at the Bernabeu
2013: Jose Mourinho
The explosive Portuguese manager’s time at the Bernabeu ended amid bitter mutual recriminations after a massive falling-out with club captain, and icon, Iker Casillas. Mourinho found the likes of Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo stood by the goalkeeper, and it ultimately led to his departure in 2013.
2007: Fabio Capello
Never known for his cuddly man management skills, Capello managed a Real Madrid team bursting with egos so upsetting a few individuals was an inevitability. The Italian endured several major disagreements with star players including Ronaldo, David Beckham (who eventually won him over) and Guti, but still managed to end up winning the league title.
2004: Jose Antonio Camacho
The former Spain boss was appointed in the summer of 2004 but amazingly resigned just six games later. Camacho lasted just 115 days but the writing was on the wall when he dropped club legend Raul following a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Camacho later admitted he could not control the dressing room.
2000: Vicente Del Bosque
The now Spain boss, came under fire from senior players for the sale of Fernando Redondo to AC Milan and the supposed poor treatment of English winger Steve McManaman. Unlike many before him and since, though, Del Bosque managed to turn it around and led Los Blancos to two Champions League titles in 2001 and 2003.
