Perez: Madrid needed new impetus

Florentino Perez has explained how Real Madrid’s need for “a new impetus” led to the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last season.

Ancelotti ended Los Blancos’ much-coveted pursuit of a 10th European cup as he guided the side to the 2013-14 Champions League but failed to win a major trophy last season.

Rafa Benitez has since replaced the Italian in Madrid’s managerial hot-seat, and the President believes his club will go on to achieve great things under the 55-year-old.

“We have a desire for continuous improvement as there’s no room for complacency,” he said at Saturday’s General Assembly.

“[Benitez] is Real Madrid through and through and knows what it takes to meet the club’s demands.

“He’s a Coach who is renowned for his methodical approach. He has passion for football and a squad with the best players in the world in each position.

“Last season was made up of two distinct halves. The first saw us play spectacular football, put together a record winning streak and win two consecutive trophies as the UEFA Super Cup was won for the second time in our history and Club World Cup the third time.

“The second didn’t allow us to achieve our targets, although we played the semi-finals of the Champions League and fought until the end for the League, but injuries in January prevented us from winning the title.

“We felt that the project became exhausted and needed a new impetus. [Carlo] Ancelotti has our appreciation and affection and his name will always be linked to Real Madrid as the Coach who won La Decima, but we wanted to inject a new impetus [into the project] with Benitez.

“We’re pleased to be able to count on the first team with 10 Spanish players, nine of them home-grown. It’s very difficult to improve a squad of such quality and talent.

“Cristiano [Ronaldo] is already a Real Madrid legend. He’s managed to become the club’s top scorer in the League and, in the coming days, will also be so in all competitions.

“He’s a unique player, who will continue giving us many joys.

“[On booing fans], we must be very demanding but not lose our sense of reality.

“When the fans show their disapproval at the [Santiago] Bernabeu, they’re weakening our image.

“They should only go to the Bernabeu to encourage the team. That’s how a madridismo should act.”

Tags Carlo Ancelotti Florentino Perez Rafa Benitez
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