It is well known that Real Madrid players were not happy with Rafa Benitez as their manager. But for the first time a few of them had publicly admitted it without actually mentioning the Spaniard.
Following yesterday’s goal fest against Sporting Gijon -the second in a row since Zinedine Zidane took on the manager job- Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez were asked about the change of manager. None of them hid the fact that they are happier with the current situation.
Ronaldo confessed all “the players feel more empathy” with Zizou. “Don’t ask me why,” he added. “Players have more empathy with some coaches and less with others,” he said.
Speaking of Rafa Benitez’s days at Real Madrid, Ronaldo admitted that “when a group of players are not happy it is difficult to play well.”
However, the Portuguese explained things have changed radically with Zidane: “He reminds me of Ancelotti, and I’m excited about the future.”
Jese is another player who has plenty of reasons to prefer Zidane to Benitez. The winger barely had minutes of action until the arrival of Zidane, who has given him great responsibility.
Although he refused to directly speak about Benitez, the Spaniard confessed that he is “very happy” with the new manager. “He is a close person who cares about every player,” he said.
