Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez revealed how the words of Alfredo Di Stefano are his source of inspiration in the turbulent time he is going through at the moment.
Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has come under increased pressure, having fallen five points behind City rivals Atletico Madrid and arch-enemies FC Barcelona.
Real have lost three times in the last six games, raising further question over Benitez’s position.
Benitez reveals Di Stefano as his source of inspiration
Revealing how the Real Madrid legend was his source of inspiration in a conversation with Madrid legend Amancio, Benitez was quoted as saying by Realmadrid.com:
a Yesterday at the Christmas dinner I was at a table with Amancio and we talked about the old sports city and what Real Madrid is. He remembered a phrase from Di St fano, who said that the most important thing was to prepare to work, and that everything else comes second.
“The team knows that and tomorrow we will see a side with the same intensity that they have shown in other games, and that is why they have won so many games”.
Benitez warns his side against Rayo’s attack
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Speaking ahead of the Rayo game, the Spanish manager said:
“It is always necessary to play as well as possible and make the most of our qualities. If we are on form we can beat any opponent. Rayo are a side that goes forward, they play attacking and open football. Therefore we have to be attentive in defence and make the most of our quality in attack.
“We have worked well in training, the side worked with quite a lot of intensity and today we even had to reduce the time a little because the side was training was a lot of intensity for the day before a game. Therefore, I am quite optimistic. Mentally, we know when things aren’t going well and of course the players will react.”
Rayo have scored just 16 goals, despite playing some good football. The side sit just above the relegation zone, in 16th place, with the same points as Granada in the relegation zone.
If Real Madrid do fail to get a positive result against this side, it will further tighten the screws on Benitez’s tenure at Real Madrid, which is increasingly looking like it’s slipping away from the former Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC manager.