Real Madrid Pass Vote Of Confidence On Benitez

This is coming few days after the club was thrashed 4-0 by rival Barcelona, which left them, six points adrift of leaders Barcelona and two behind with city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Madrid fans voiced their frustration with the manager, urging him to resign.

Perez was forced to call a press conference on 23 November, to inform the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss that he retains the club’s full backing.

Following the board meeting on Monday, the club president said: “We have analysed the sports situation. Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has all our support and trust.

“The solution to this is Rafa Benitez. We signed him to turn things around. We think he is the right person. But we must let him work — not listen to those making up lies that board doesn’t want him, or the players don’t want him.

“He has a good relationship with the players, with the board, and me in particular. We understand the anger of fans after Saturday, but ask for support for our players.”

“Since last January we have suffered a deterioration in the team, that is obvious, we chose Rafa with confidence he could turn it around. It is still very early, he cannot resolve everything overnight, but we have confidence he will sort it out. That’s why we signed him.”

Perez also denied that he had any influence on team selection by Benitez, who chose an uncharacteristically attacking team in his first Clasico in charge on Saturday.

“Rafa has full powers, nobody suggests him anything.

“I’ve been here since 2000 — no coach has ever said I suggested anything to them. They all have autonomy. The squad has many very good players, it is difficult to choose sometimes. But he has full power to do whatever he considers right,” Perez said.

He also denied reports, that Ronaldo had asked him to part ways with Benitez.

He said: “Cristiano Ronaldo has never said anything about anyone. He has never said to me that with Rafa Benitez we aren’t going to win anything either. He is a good guy and that reports are just trying to damage us like the ones which say that I want to sell Ronaldo and that I had a meeting with the PSG president to sell him. I can assure that Benitez has a good relationship with the squad.”

Real’s next game is at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday, followed by an away game against Eibar in La Liga on Sunday.