From the Times:
IT WAS going to be easy, Florentino Perez promised. “Easy. This is the team…” David De Gea in goal. Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, the defence. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric the midfield. James, Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in attack.
Never mind, bar the centre- backs, that not one of his outfielders was strong defending. Real Madrid’s president continued. “The stars should play every week, and they hate being substituted. And they must be fit at the end of the season, because last year we ran out of gas.” Another thing. “We need to bring through academy players.”
According to sources, this was Perez’s outlook for Real’s 2015-16 campaign. The stars play every minute of every game but must never get tired and the manager must also find room for the kids?
Easy. For Rafa Benitez, that was just the wedding. Honeymoon period? There was none. Managers, upon taking jobs, usually get at least one bespoke signing but Benitez’s requests for an extra striker and left back were dismissed.
Being wed to every Kardashian simultaneously might be lower maintenance than betrothal to Perez’s Madrid. Benitez, methodical and long-term orientated, was sacked after 25 games - though Perez considered sacking him after 23. After, yes, the 10-2 defeat of Rayo Vallecano that was Real Madrid’s biggest league victory since 1960.
Witnesses say Perez had thundered into the coaches’ room at full-time, asking why Bale, his favourite signing, was substituted with 15 minutes left. “We were 8-2 up, Gareth had scored four and deserved an ovation,” Benitez explained. “He could have scored five! The worst substitution!” Perez snapped back. At a board meeting the next morning Perez was talked out of a firing: Nobody can be sacked after winning 10-2, directors implored.
Benitez’s short reign at the Bernabeu, the inside story of which can now be told, reveals how managing football’s biggest club is now its craziest job. Carlo Ancelotti had the second best win rate of any Madrid coach, securing their fabled tenth European Cup, but Perez dismissed him for being too easygoing with the squad. He recruited Benitez to impose his trademark workrate, professional seriousness and unsentimental leadership. But appointed “because we need someone to manage them” those close to Benitez say he never felt empowered to do that.
Omit a player or correct them in training? There’d a call from Perez the next day: “X is unhappy that you . . . ” Benitez came to picture himself sharing a house with 24 young men and granddad upstairs, who they kept going to with their complaints.
The media’s role in Bernabeu life is central, with Perez and the major players allied to different outlets and enemies of others. During Benitez’s time, training ground and boardroom leaks were continual — if not always accurate.
In Australia, in pre-season, Benitez was asked if Ronaldo was the best player in the world and replied “one of the best” because it’s against his ethos to place one player above others in his squad, but Real’s press office went into crisis mode, working overtime on retraction strategies. Ironically, Perez’s private view of the superstar is less effusive than his public one. He sees Bale as Madrid’s future. It’s thought he would consider offers but they would have to be mega-mega ones, for Ronaldo makes £50m per year in shirt sales, of which Madrid take half. Paris Saint Germain are linked with him but Manchester United are the only suitor who have explored a deal. United bid £100m for Bale last summer and he’s the option to which they’re expected to return first.
“He can get you, me and the chief executive [Jose Angel Sanchez] sacked,” Perez is said to have warned Benitez, wary of Ronaldo’s pull with fans. His objection to signing another No9 was, “Ronaldo can play there.” Yet Ronaldo dislikes being a central striker and when Benzema was absent, facing blackmail charges in France, Ronaldo played through the middle , stewing about Perez. Benitez gave him minimal duties in his pressing system, appreciating his extraordinary finishing skills. His quirks — Ronaldo rubs ice on his face to make it glow before leaving the dressing room for interviews — caused amusement though.
De Gea never did arrive: the president flip-flopped over the keeper, initially thinking he could get him for £20m then panicking and considering a £50m bid when United played hardball. Perez grew worried fans would resent him ditching the popular Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican keeper was offered to United in part-exchange for De Gea, and Benitez was with Navas and his family at 10.30pm on deadline day, with all the transfer papers prepared. The deal’s collapse, seemingly at the Madrid end, remains unexplained, but coaches felt Navas was undermined.
Despite the season’s rocky start, entering November Madrid were joint top of La Liga and qualified from their Champions League group in record time. But Perez was not happy. Benitez liked Mateo Kovacic, the tenacious young Serb signed for £22m from Inter Milan but Kovacic was no galactico.
“We should have waited and signed him in three years for £60m — Real Madrid should only buy the finished article,” Perez said, semi-seriously, when Kovacic was doing well. Benitez used the Serb to balance his midfield but Perez wanted James back in the XI, or Isco to play. Benitez felt that James was seldom fully fit and caused his own PR problems when caught speeding at 125mph. The police were wrong, the Colombian told Benitez. “It was only 110mph.”
Benitez’s first defeat, at Sevilla on November 8, started the sacking calls. Then came the Clasico. Before, a mutual friend warned Benitez he’d be fired if he didn’t play the “Perez XI”. He did. 4-0 Barcelona in the Bernabeu. “You were right, from now on you can do what you like,” Perez said afterwards. The next game, with Kovacic, Casemiro and Nacho Fernandez starting (and James benched again) Real scored four against Shakhtar Donetsk.
A run of wins featuring similar Benitez line-ups, including a record 8-0 defeat of Malmo, followed. “Do you know how many shirts James sells?” Perez asked. Madrid were ejected from the Copa Del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz: an admin error, but the fans booed Benitez. Perez then “turned the cannons” on him, Benitez felt. The end was a 2-2 draw at Valencia.
Perez polled season ticket holders and canvassed players on whether Jose Mourinho or Zinedine Zidane should take over, before appointing Zidane. Benitez was four points off the top, with 69 goals in his 25 games, when he was ditched. He wishes Zidane, a gentleman, luck.
IT WAS going to be easy, Florentino Perez promised. “Easy. This is the team…” David De Gea in goal. Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, the defence. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric the midfield. James, Gareth Bale, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in attack.
Never mind, bar the centre- backs, that not one of his outfielders was strong defending. Real Madrid’s president continued. “The stars should play every week, and they hate being substituted. And they must be fit at the end of the season, because last year we ran out of gas.” Another thing. “We need to bring through academy players.”
According to sources, this was Perez’s outlook for Real’s 2015-16 campaign. The stars play every minute of every game but must never get tired and the manager must also find room for the kids?
Easy. For Rafa Benitez, that was just the wedding. Honeymoon period? There was none. Managers, upon taking jobs, usually get at least one bespoke signing but Benitez’s requests for an extra striker and left back were dismissed.
Being wed to every Kardashian simultaneously might be lower maintenance than betrothal to Perez’s Madrid. Benitez, methodical and long-term orientated, was sacked after 25 games - though Perez considered sacking him after 23. After, yes, the 10-2 defeat of Rayo Vallecano that was Real Madrid’s biggest league victory since 1960.
Witnesses say Perez had thundered into the coaches’ room at full-time, asking why Bale, his favourite signing, was substituted with 15 minutes left. “We were 8-2 up, Gareth had scored four and deserved an ovation,” Benitez explained. “He could have scored five! The worst substitution!” Perez snapped back. At a board meeting the next morning Perez was talked out of a firing: Nobody can be sacked after winning 10-2, directors implored.
Benitez’s short reign at the Bernabeu, the inside story of which can now be told, reveals how managing football’s biggest club is now its craziest job. Carlo Ancelotti had the second best win rate of any Madrid coach, securing their fabled tenth European Cup, but Perez dismissed him for being too easygoing with the squad. He recruited Benitez to impose his trademark workrate, professional seriousness and unsentimental leadership. But appointed “because we need someone to manage them” those close to Benitez say he never felt empowered to do that.
Omit a player or correct them in training? There’d a call from Perez the next day: “X is unhappy that you . . . ” Benitez came to picture himself sharing a house with 24 young men and granddad upstairs, who they kept going to with their complaints.
The media’s role in Bernabeu life is central, with Perez and the major players allied to different outlets and enemies of others. During Benitez’s time, training ground and boardroom leaks were continual — if not always accurate.
In Australia, in pre-season, Benitez was asked if Ronaldo was the best player in the world and replied “one of the best” because it’s against his ethos to place one player above others in his squad, but Real’s press office went into crisis mode, working overtime on retraction strategies. Ironically, Perez’s private view of the superstar is less effusive than his public one. He sees Bale as Madrid’s future. It’s thought he would consider offers but they would have to be mega-mega ones, for Ronaldo makes £50m per year in shirt sales, of which Madrid take half. Paris Saint Germain are linked with him but Manchester United are the only suitor who have explored a deal. United bid £100m for Bale last summer and he’s the option to which they’re expected to return first.
“He can get you, me and the chief executive [Jose Angel Sanchez] sacked,” Perez is said to have warned Benitez, wary of Ronaldo’s pull with fans. His objection to signing another No9 was, “Ronaldo can play there.” Yet Ronaldo dislikes being a central striker and when Benzema was absent, facing blackmail charges in France, Ronaldo played through the middle , stewing about Perez. Benitez gave him minimal duties in his pressing system, appreciating his extraordinary finishing skills. His quirks — Ronaldo rubs ice on his face to make it glow before leaving the dressing room for interviews — caused amusement though.
De Gea never did arrive: the president flip-flopped over the keeper, initially thinking he could get him for £20m then panicking and considering a £50m bid when United played hardball. Perez grew worried fans would resent him ditching the popular Keylor Navas. The Costa Rican keeper was offered to United in part-exchange for De Gea, and Benitez was with Navas and his family at 10.30pm on deadline day, with all the transfer papers prepared. The deal’s collapse, seemingly at the Madrid end, remains unexplained, but coaches felt Navas was undermined.
Despite the season’s rocky start, entering November Madrid were joint top of La Liga and qualified from their Champions League group in record time. But Perez was not happy. Benitez liked Mateo Kovacic, the tenacious young Serb signed for £22m from Inter Milan but Kovacic was no galactico.
“We should have waited and signed him in three years for £60m — Real Madrid should only buy the finished article,” Perez said, semi-seriously, when Kovacic was doing well. Benitez used the Serb to balance his midfield but Perez wanted James back in the XI, or Isco to play. Benitez felt that James was seldom fully fit and caused his own PR problems when caught speeding at 125mph. The police were wrong, the Colombian told Benitez. “It was only 110mph.”
Benitez’s first defeat, at Sevilla on November 8, started the sacking calls. Then came the Clasico. Before, a mutual friend warned Benitez he’d be fired if he didn’t play the “Perez XI”. He did. 4-0 Barcelona in the Bernabeu. “You were right, from now on you can do what you like,” Perez said afterwards. The next game, with Kovacic, Casemiro and Nacho Fernandez starting (and James benched again) Real scored four against Shakhtar Donetsk.
A run of wins featuring similar Benitez line-ups, including a record 8-0 defeat of Malmo, followed. “Do you know how many shirts James sells?” Perez asked. Madrid were ejected from the Copa Del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz: an admin error, but the fans booed Benitez. Perez then “turned the cannons” on him, Benitez felt. The end was a 2-2 draw at Valencia.
Perez polled season ticket holders and canvassed players on whether Jose Mourinho or Zinedine Zidane should take over, before appointing Zidane. Benitez was four points off the top, with 69 goals in his 25 games, when he was ditched. He wishes Zidane, a gentleman, luck.
