Real Madrid's new coach Rafa Benitez said Monday he has already been in contact with many of the stars of the Spanish giants and found the club attitude to his liking.
Benitez, who is currently staying at his family home in Liverpool, says he has spoken to all of his players, as he goes about stamping his authority on the club.
He said: “My technical team and I have been following and been in contact with the players. I have to say that first of all, the predisposition to work that all of them, Sergio (Ramos), Iker (Casilla), Cristiano (Ronaldo), (Gareth) Bale, Pepe, (Raphael) Varane ... have shown me has been excellent.
“The first thing I’ve done is to listen, to know what went well and what went badly last year, to see what they thought could be improved and how they would like things to be done.
“Once we are all together, we will decide what is the best for the club and what is the best for each of them.”
Benitez also said in a wide-ranging interview published to Real Madrid’s official website that the team will play offensively under his watch and are looking to sign new players before the start of the new season.
“We have attacking players, so our idea of play will be offensive.
“Our style of play will be based on playing attacking football, having possession of the ball whenever we can, attacking by moving the ball quickly, looking not to lose balance between attack and defence.”
Benitez, 55, signed a three-year deal this month to take charge of Madrid, where he began his coaching career in the youth ranks during the early 90s.
The former Liverpool coach can count on two new players next year – Brazil right-back Danilo and Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro, who Real Madrid signed from Portuguese side FC Porto earlier this year.
Asked if the club will sign new players, Benitez affirmed: “Of course.”
“Danilo and Casemiro, for example, are players who are going to be important and the club is working every day to try to raise the level of this team with the odd signing that can help us to tackle the challenges ahead of us.
“But let me say that improving the current Real Madrid squad is immensely difficult. This team has won everything and has shown the level it has. The fans can rest assured that this squad will possess the level of competitiveness that is demanded of this club.”
Benitez replaced Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti who was sacked by Real Madrid just a year after he won the club’s long-awaited 10th European Cup.
He is returning to Spain for the first time in over a decade after making a name for himself with two league titles in three years at Valencia between 2001 and 2004.
Yet, he has failed to land a league title in the 11 years since he swapped Valencia for Liverpool.
Benitez’s greatest achievement in that time came in winning the Champions League in his first season at Liverpool. However, he delivered only the Uefa Super Cup and the FA Cup in 2006 in the five years that followed at Anfield.
Ancelotti for his part was criticised for playing Wales forward Bale out of position, and Benitez knows his aim must be to get the most out of the huge amount of talent at his disposal.
“With regards to who will play and where, we have to be together, train together and then decide,” Benitez, who most recently managed Napoli, said.
“Iker, Sergio, Cristiano, Isco, Bale, unlike what is being said, none of them demands to play here or there, above all, because we have not decided the best system to make the most of the potential of each player.
“They have to be happy on the pitch to give us the best of themselves.
“We know what we want and we know how to adapt to certain situations.”
Benitez, who has signed a three-year contract with Real, added of his return to the Bernabeu: “Real Madrid is a great club, that has a great team and demands the most and attracts the attention of the entire world.
“We will try to do things with common sense, and everything will be easier. I was contracted to assume responsibility and I will do so.
“We will try to create a work environment that will allow us to obtain results.
“That is why I’m optimistic because we have the means, capacity, dedication and devotion that will allow us to achieve our aims.”
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