Rafa Benitez rejects claims his Real Madrid side are too defensive
Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has defended his side after they were criticised for failing to score against Sporting Gijon in the first game of the new La Liga season.
He rejected claims his Madrid team is too defensive, pointing out they had "more shots on goal" than any other team in the first round of fixtures.
"I understand that there is now a lot of media and that they have to continually produce news, be successful and seem big, but it surprises me there's a permanent debate about a technical decision," Benitez said.
"We get a goalless draw and people say we are defensive. If we see the statistics, Real Madrid are the team with the most shots on goal in Spain's top flight so far.
"So it seems strange to me that people would say we're defensive. To attack is to look to do damage to the rival, but one goalless draw and people say we're defensive."
And he also offered his support to Gareth Bale: "With Bale, we have a really quick player who can unbalance defences. He's got a good head for the game and does a lot of things well.
"It's sensational to have so many options in attack, like I have, with so many offensive players. It's a blessing, not a problem."
On Madrid's Champions League draw, Benitez said it is "not an easy group".
"It's a group which some will evaluate one way, others in another way. But the reality is that PSG are a great team with great players. They get stronger every year.
"Shakhtar have experience in the Champions League; they have Brazilians of real quality who can affect matches. And Malmo are the champions of their league and have eliminated Celtic to get here."
