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Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez urged the Bernabeu faithful to back his players after they put in a virtuoso display to hammer Rayo Vallecano 10-2.
Bale scored 4 goals, Benzema scored a hat-trick and Ronaldo grabbed a brace as Real Madrid closed in to within 2 points of FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of the table by plundering 10 goals past a hapless Rayo side.
Rayo, who actually took the lead at the Bernabeu after 12 minutes, were reduced to 9 men after the half an hour mark after Tito and Jose Raul Baena were given their marching orders by the referee Ignacio Iglesias.
Rafa Benitez and the Real Madrid players were booed by the home fans at full time despite their record breaking demolition of the Vallecas club.
Rafa Benitez: Players Unaffected by Crowd Whistling
Speaking to the media after his side’s 10-2 mauling of Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez refuted claims that his players were affected by the constant whistling of the Bernabeu crowd.
“No — as it [the whistling] was a short period, very quick,” said Benitez (as quoted by espnfc). “I came out late to the dugout, focused to start the game. The players scored early, so the fans were happy then. We cannot say [the negativity] lasted a long time, so it did not affect them. We conceded two quick goals, and the team reacted. I will not judge what happened, can just say my team did well and scored goals.
“We are going round and around the same theme. It does not change. The players know fans are not happy at moments in the game, they have to do better. That is what we tried to do, nothing more.
“There are three phases in the game. One when we score and did what we knew to do — get behind their defence. Second, when we conceded, and we need to improve intensity in defence. Third, when, bit by bit, the team took control, taking advantage of our numerical advantage. We had to do that and score goals, and we did.”
What an afternoon at the Bernab u! ?Y Y #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/wOeC9hnlBf
a Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) December 20, 2015
Rafa Benitez remains as unpopular as ever, despite Real Madrid’s record breaking win
It was a strange atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday evening. The last time a La Liga club scored 10 goals in a single match was more than 50 years ago in 1960. Normally, the winning fans would be out in full strength to celebrate their team’s record breaking achievement.
Real Madrid fans were very vociferous on Sunday night — but not to celebrate the occasion. Benitez and the Real Madrid players were booed repeatedly and mercilessly throughout the match by the Bernabeu faithful. Real Madrid’s humiliating 4-0 home loss to bitter rivals FC Barcelona coupled with recent defeats to Villarreal and Sevilla has invoked the ire of the Los Blancos fans.
Even before the season started, Benitez’s appointment as the manager of Real Madrid FC was met with bouquets and brickbats. His pragmatic and often defensive approach to football has not gone down well with a majority of the Bernabeu faithful. Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that Real Madrid and Benitez were booed off the pitch, despite their resounding 10-2 win on the night.