Zinedine Zidane believes Rafa Benitez is a good choice as Real Madrid Coach as the new boss ‘understands results matter’ at Santiago Bernabeu.
Benitez was hired to replace Carlo Ancelotti after Madrid ended the season in second place and eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Champions League.
Zidane has said that the club got it right in hiring the former Valencia, Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea and Napoli trainer, and also spoke about Ancelotti, whom he assisted in his first year at the club.
“The club chose Benitez and I think it’s a good choice. It’s a total change and has to be respected,” the Castilla boss contended, AS reports.
“He’s won trophies, he knows this club and he’s been in the cantera and he knows what counts at Madrid are results.
“We spoke as he wanted to know about players in Castilla who could join in training.
“The President didn’t speak with me [about the decision], but I did speak to Carlo after the news because I like him. The work he did was impressive.”
Zidane – who dismissed a question about the rumpus involving Gerard Pique, Kevin Roldan and Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthday party – was asked about both his future at Castilla and that of Iker Casillas.
“I think Casillas will get a send-off, but he’s still a Madrid player. There are difficult moments in football. Iker’s lived them,” Zidane acknowledged.
“We’ve all been through those times. We’ve all been jeered, myself included.
“I’m staying with Castilla because I want to. The challenge was to be promoted and we didn’t do that, but I want to try again.
“I’d like to Coach in the Primera one day and if it’s here, then that’s even better. I don’t rule it out but for now I’m at Castilla.”
