It seems like Real Madrid’s players are already frustrated with ‘pain in the ass’ Rafa Benitez

'Worse than Mourinho'?

Rafael Benitez hasn't been in charge of Real Madrid for very long but already his methods seem to be causing a lot of consternation among his players. According to a report by Jose Manuel Garcia in Spanish newspaper El Confidencial many of the Real Madrid players have already grown tired of Benitez's coaching methods, where relentless drills working on tactics, defensive shape and solidity are favoured over anything more expressive. Garcia's article claims the players dread each day's session, knowing that every aspect of the game will be broken down and drilled over and over again. "Work has become an intolerable bore," one unnamed player is quoted as saying. One high-ranking Real Madrid official says the former Liverpool boss is like 'a pain in the ass version of Jose Mourinho'. Part of the problem seems to stem from the fact that everyone seems to know Benitez's preferred starting XI. While the Spaniard became known for his squad rotation during his time at Anfield it seems those players on the fringes of the Real team don't seem content to bide their time and wait for a place in the starting XI. But after five games in La Liga, Real are top of the table with four wins and one draw, with 14 goals scored and just one conceded, so maybe his monotonous methods work.