Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez denies fearing the sack despite Barcelona thrashing

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez insisted he is more worried about recovering his players’ confidence than being sacked after the Spanish giants were thrashed 4-0 at home by bitter rivals Barcelona on Saturday.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager has only been in charge for 16 games, but back-to-back defeats now leave Madrid six points behind Barcelona in the title race.

“Logically we are hurting. It hurts to lose and particularly to lose in that manner,” said Benitez.

“We have lost three points in La Liga and nothing more. What worries me is the team recovering mentally before the next game.”

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Just as galling as the result for Madrid fans was their side’s complete inferiority as Barca dominated from start to finish and could even afford the luxury of leaving four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi on the bench on his return from a two-month injury layoff.

Goals from Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta had already put Barca 3-0 up by the time Messi was introduced and he was involved in setting up Suarez to seal a humiliating defeat for Benitez’s men.

The home supporters called for club president Florentino Perez’s resignation towards the end of the game, but it is Benitez who is most likely to be in the firing line.

However, he believes he will be given the chance to turn things around, starting with Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.

“I insist that we haven’t played well and the only think that we can do now is recover as quickly as possible to face the next game.