Rafa Benitez pointed to Real Madrid’s rout of Malmo as evidence that accusations he’s a defensive Coach are wide of the mark.
Madrid scored eight against the Swedes – Cristiano Ronaldo getting four and Karim Benzema getting three – and Benitez was asked post-match about the record score line, the second time he’s coached a team to such a win.
“I’ve always said I’m not defensive and this is a demonstration of that,” he argued, AS reports.
“I’m proud [of the record win] and I thought today we could have beaten it. I’m satisfied with the team. I hope the fans enjoyed it.
“We expected a strange game because they had to win to be third. We eventually found our rhythm and the match went for us. The goal at the start of the second half said it all. We scored eight but it could have been more.”
Benzema, who has been blighted by injury and off-field issues, came in for comment from the trainer, who praised the striker, and he also discussed Denis Cheryshev and Marcelo, the latter having sent a tweet contradicting Benitez’s suggestion he was injured.
“He started well, then got injured and had other problems. But he’s still scoring goals and will be critical during the season,” Benitez said.
“The game allowed us to use Marcelo and Denis. It was almost perfect.
“We know what we do. We’re professionals. Marcelo said something, the doctor and I clarified it.”
