Real Madrid coach denies 'boring' tactics

There have only been seven games in the BBVA Primera Liga season in Spain and his unbeaten side sit in second place in the league table, but already Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez is facing criticism.

The fact that the coach replaced striker Karim Benzema to shore up his side's midfield as they led 1-0 away to Atletico Madrid on Sunday night and even so Atletico snatched a late equalizer has led to accusations of him being boring and defensive in his tactics.

Benitez defended his ideas on Spanish radio Station, Cadena Ser, on Monday evening, starting off by saying he had a good relationship with Benzema, who had scored Madrid's goal and who was clearly unhappy at being changed.

"He is a great player," he said. "I have given him a target of between 20-25 goals and I am delighted with him. I would be unhappy if I was changed in a game, but I would react by trying to score two goals so nobody changed me."

While Benzema was changed, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has only scored in one of Madrid's seven league games, continues to play 90 minutes, despite looking out of form, but Benitez denied the striker was 'untouchable.'

"That is a myth. He has to rest when he needs to rest to give the most to the team and he tells me that he understands that. What he thinks and what I saw are the same and there are a lot fewer problems than those I read about," he insisted.

Benitez denied accusations that he was defensive in his tactics.

"I didn't tell the team to sit back. I have come here from Napoli where we scored 104 goals, so I am not going to be defensive with Madrid. A team that shoots at goal and has the ball is not defensive, although sometimes the rival obliges you to defend."

"I am not worried that people call me defensive, I am more annoyed that we dropped two points," he insisted. Endi