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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
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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