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Rafael Benitez: 'I am not a defensive coach'

Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez claims that his label as primarily a defensive manager is unfair.

Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez has played down suggestions that he is primarily a defensive manager.

Throughout his career, Benitez has been known as a manager that places a big emphasis on the defensive side of the game.

However, the Spaniard has claimed that Real's approach in the Madrid derby at the weekend is an indication that he always puts out attacking teams.

"I don't do catenaccio, not at all. In Italy it was said I was too attacking. Two years in a row we scored 104 goals, beating Napoli's record," Benitez told COPE.

"[In Spain] I am labelled defensive, or catenaccio, and we are the team that has the most shots on goal and the most goals. The proof is in the first half of the derby. Why did the team play so well and why were they so superior to Atletico then? Because we went out to win the game. I never tell the team to drop back. I've never done that.

"Last year this team played at Vicente Calderon against a great team and this year we played against Atletico's best team, the best squad Diego Simeone has had, and for the first time we absolutely dominated all facets of the game."

Real Madrid have only conceded twice in the league this season, while they have found the back of the net on 15 occasions.

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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) and Malmo's Norwegian midfielder Jo Inge Berget vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League first-leg Group A football match between Malmo FF and Real Madrid CF at the Swedbank Stadion, in Malmo
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona87012591621
2Real Madrid96301961321
3Villarreal95221717017
4Atletico MadridAtletico8440124816
5Osasuna94321314-115
6Athletic Bilbao8422128414
7Mallorca942398114
8Rayo Vallecano9342119213
9Celta Vigo94141615113
10Real BetisBetis833287112
11AlavesAlaves83141112-110
12Espanyol9315913-410
13GironaGirona8233911-29
14Sevilla8233810-29
15Real Sociedad822467-18
16Getafe915367-18
17Leganes915359-48
18Valencia9135513-86
19Real ValladolidValladolid9126519-145
20Las PalmasLas Palmas9036917-83


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