More Merited Benítez Bashing in Madrid

Lucas Vázquez was the first player Rafa Benítez asked to be signed when he took the Real Madrid reins and the bringing back of the academy graduate is the coach's biggest success to date. As feats go, this column believes this isn't much to write home about (this isn't Napoli, Rafa) and judging by the loud boos that greeted the coach's name when it was read out over the speakers before the Getafe match, the supporters agree. The stadium managers will have to blast out one of the club's anthems again (the Plácido Domingo centenary tune or the Red One 'Décima' song, it doesn't matter) if they want to drown out the discontent, because once you're a marked man at the Bernabéu, the crowd don't tend to relent.

Even though Karim Benzema opened the scoring with just four minutes gone, this was not enough to totally extinguish the fans' fury at what they're seeing out on the pitch and in the offices. You can see where they're coming from.

The team did at least look hungrier and play some better stuff than in previous games. The BBC, Luka Modric and James Rodríguez made the most of Getafe's passiveness and the goals flowed. Real Madrid enjoyed themselves and entertained, which is refreshing after so much hogwash.

Nevertheless, it seems that it's too much to ask for this side to deliver for the full 90 minutes. So, after producing a fine first half, they wasted an excellent opportunity to further atone for the 'Clásico' and Cádiz debacles, instead letting themselves go, to the chagrin of the faithful. Just as well Benítez allowed Benzema to lap up some much-needed support and didn't substitute James, who is at the end of his tether. But then he's also gone and had a row with Marcelo. Great man-management, huh?

All of this is why I feel that Benítez is out of his depth at Real Madrid. He thinks that matches are won using his notepad and his method-madness rather than through his players' talents. As it is, his system, which is really more of a straitjacket, is shackling a group of players who don't believe in what they're doing.


Read more: Real Madrid: Small-time Benítez - MARCA.com (English version)