Sergio Ramos has admitted that Real Madrid “are much happier” under Zinedine Zidane but stressed his teammates did not force out Rafa Benitez.
Los Blancos thrashed Espanyol 6-0 on Saturday to extend the Coach’s 100 percent home run to three games, with at least five goals scored in each, and the defender – who returned from a calf injury to feature over the weekend – was full of praise for the new man in charge.
“The team came out really pumped up from the first minute, applying pressure quite high up the pitch, regaining possession in their half, and this made it very difficult for the opposition,” he told Madrid’s official website after the match.
“We enjoyed good possession and in front of goal we were very clinical. The way we performed during the first fifteen minutes made the rest of the game very comfortable.
“Each coach has his own footballing philosophy, and as players we try to adapt to that as best as we can. Of course Zidane puts a bit more emphasis on applying pressure high up, this is very important for us.
“Since Zidane has come in, there has been a change in this regard.
“These three weeks with him have been tough, but they’ll serve us well for what’s in store during the rest of the season, as the intense part of the season approaches.
“I feel very good, I was really champing at the bit to return and to feel relaxed that I’d put the niggles behind me. Today I felt quite good.
“We would like not to be in the situation we found ourselves in, but such is football.
“We have to fight for the La Liga title, and we’re going to try and pick up as many points as we can to try to cut the leader’s advantage, and also try to claw back some points on Atlético and put them under pressure.
“This is typical of football though, it teaches you that sometimes when you play well, you don’t win, and at others, when you don’t play as well, you end up getting the result.
“We need to continue to be optimistic and to retain the ambition to keep on winning games and try to make up some of the ground on the teams above us as quickly as possible.
“Under Zizou everyone is much happier, I don’t know whether it’s because of the relationship that he already had with the players from the time he worked under Ancelotti or whether it is because of the respect that we have for him.
“For us he’s represents an example to follow, he was a legendary figure at this club.
“When he gives you advice, he does it differently to any other coach, but all of the coaches who have been here have always received the utmost respect.
“At Real Madrid there are always news stories which come out of nowhere. We all have clear consciences.
“Throughout my career, I’ve never done anything to get a Coach out of a club, and I’ve never seen any teammate do anything like that.
“Our dressing room is totally different to how it is painted, I can vouch for that.”
