SOCCER-REACTIONS Rafa Benitez sees his new team Real Madrid lose on penalties in Australia

Record ID: 146663

  • Title: SOCCER-REACTIONS Rafa Benitez sees his new team Real Madrid lose on penalties in Australia
  • Date: 18th July 2015
  • Summary: MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (JULY 18, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) REAL MADRID'S HEAD COACH RAFA BENITEZ, ASSESSING ROMA, SAYS: "We knew that they had more training sessions than us so they could have more pace but it was more or less similar. They know how they play for three years with the same coach. Obviously we knew that they play long ball behind the defe
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAEES2IDHD42NL0RAQZFGZWDNGA
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Rafa Benitez kicked-off his tenure as Real Madrid boss with a frustrating 7-6 penalty shootout loss to AS Roma in a pre-season friendly on Saturday (July 18).
    With both teams goalless at full-time in front of a crowd of 80,746 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the International Champions Cup match was decided by penalty shootout and Seydou Keita slotted the winner after a miss by Lucas Vazquez.
    Afterwards Benitez, fresh from leaving Napoli, assessed his former Serie A opponents AS Roma.
    "We knew that they had more training sessions than us so they could have more pace but it was more or less similar," the Spaniard said. "They know how they play for three years with the same coach. Obviously we knew that they play long ball behind the defenders, Gervinho, all these things. And I think they will be a solid team and they will do well in the Serie A."
    AS Roma head coach Rudi Garcia said his team had been eager to play against Real Madrid.
    "Before the game, in the technical talk, I didn't need to motivate my players as they are already motivated playing against such big teams," Garcia said. "I knew this would be a very different match to the one we played at the end of the training camp. I liked very much the defensive organisation with a very good attitude, and De Sanctis, our goalkeeper, made a couple of good saves against Isco at the end of the second period and at the penalty shootout, and it is important to win even after a shootout."
    Coming to Real Madrid, Benitez is looking to make some changes to the Real Madrid formerly coached by Carlo Ancelotti. Benitez has already told reporters he has a wealth of fine forwards to choose from, and he appeared to be playing Gareth Bale in a more forward position. One reporter asked him if he was resolved to play Bale as a number 10.
    "No it is an option," said Benitez. "Obviously he can play in a different position but this one is an option, I like this one if he can do well."
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