FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique revealed that he was not surprised by the sudden sacking of Rafa Benitez as the head coach of Real Madrid.
Rafa Benitez was sacked by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez after his side’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla on Sunday night. Former Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as the next manager of the football club for an unspecified period of time. Benitez was given his marching orders by Los Blancos after completing just 7 months at the helm of the club.
Luis Enrique not surprised by Benitez sacking
Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s Copa del Rey first leg clash against Catalan rivals RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique revealed that he wasn’t surprised by the sacking of Rafa Benitez midway through the season.
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“I was not surprised by Real Madrid’s decision to dismiss Benitez,” said Benitez (via IBT). “That is the way things go in modern day football.
“This is nothing new. I do not think it is unfair on coaches. It is a risk that comes with the profession. We are all made aware of this when we do our coaching courses. We know this can happen and all accept it.
“It is a shame for those who get the sack, while it is something positive for the one who gets the job. We all go through a situation like this at some point in our career.”
Real Madrid enter unchartered territory with the appointment of Zinedine Zidane
When Luis Enrique was asked by the media to comment on the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as the next manager of Real Madrid, the Asturian bluntly replied, “I don’t know what to expect from Zidane. I do not know him as a coach.” Neither do the Madridistas. With Zidane’s appointment as the new manager of the club, Real Madrid and Florentino Perez have taken a plunge into the unknown. Legendary manager Ottmar Hitzfeld came out and labelled Zidane’s appointment as “a crazy, insane decision”.
In 2013, Zidane was appointed as the assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti during the Italian’s initial years at the club and a year later, the Frenchman was put in charge of Madrid’s Castilla side in the Segunda Division B. Luis Enrique, the rest of the managers in Spain, and indeed the rest of the world will be watching Zidane’s managerial progress at Real Madrid with keen interest.