Rafa Benitez hails Real Madrid grit despite toothless attack in PSG stalemate
Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez described his injury-hit team’s performance in holding Paris Saint-Germain to a 0-0 draw at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday as “exceptional”.
“We deserved to win the match. Given the circumstances the performance of the team was not good, it was exceptional,” said Benitez after the group A clash that failed to live up to expectations as a spectacle but edged both clubs a step closer to qualification for the last 16.
“I was convinced the team would play well and try to win the game. We had chances to win it, more than them, and decent control of the match against a team who are not easy to play against.
We deserved to win the match. Given the circumstances the performance of the team was not good, it was exceptional
“As coach I am very satisfied with the performance of the players.”
Real were without Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez for the trip to the French capital, along with Pepe, so their attacking potential was greatly reduced, although they could still call upon their all-time leading scorer in Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar came as close as anyone to winning the game with a 72nd-minute volley that flew just wide, but the point keeps Real on course for qualification for the last 16 from group A and makes them favourites to win the section.
They host PSG in the Spanish capital in a fortnight, with both clubs on seven points, four points clear of Malmo, who beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in Sweden in the night’s other game.
Critics who label Benitez an overly defensive coach will point out that Madrid failed to score for the first time in 41 Champions League group games since a 2-0 defeat by Juventus back in 2008, when Bernd Schuster was in charge.