Rafa Benitez is already making extreme sacrifices as Real Madrid’s head coach

So much for the 'fat Spanish waiter'

Rafa Benitez was only officially confirmed as Real Madrid's new head coach early on Wednesday morning but the former Liverpool manager is already making his presence felt at the Bernabeu. Benitez arrived at the Madrid training ground on Tuesday and immediately immersed himself in all aspects of the club. And a report in this morning's AS details what exactly he has been doing. The article contains one piece of information which for a man of Rafa's, ahem, stature, must be seen as the ultimate sacrifice... he has been too busy even to eat.

Benítez has assumed control of the club in just 24 hours. Since arriving from Naples he has hidden away in Valdebebas to ensure he knows everything about the set-up: the buildings, the doctors, coaches, pre-season, incomings and outgoings, reports…He has not left Valdebebas even to eat. His obsession with work and attention to detail has been part of his success.

We can't imagine this will last very long. Carlo Ancelotti was apparently smitten with the quality of pork products available in the Spanish capital. We'd bet our lives that his successor in the Real hotseat also knows his way round a fine piece of jamon.