Benitez: Real Madrid paid for mistakes
Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez feels Barcelona made his side pay for every mistake, but refused to blame any individuals for the defeat.
Rafael Benitez feels Barcelona made Real Madrid pay for their mistakes in Saturday's 4-0 Clasico defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar saw Madrid trailing by two goals at half-time, before Andres Iniesta and again Suarez piled even more misery on the home side after the interval.
"Whenever you lose it's always bad and especially against Barcelona. We've paid for our mistakes. We've made mistakes and against a team like Barca you pay for those dearly," Benitez said at a news conference.
"We wanted to attack and win back the ball high up the field but it didn't come off. We're all responsible for it not going well, now we look for unity in the group and to try and sort this out in the next game.
"Now we have to train hard and work hard to improve. I hope the team can recover quickly. When you lose in this way there is a worry as to how the players will react.
"At half-time they were angry and at the end of the game there was little to say. I won’t talk about a lack of desire in my team."
Madrid trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by six points following the Clasico.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023
‘Ruben Amorim could have waited for Real Madrid and had a better chance to be successful – to have joined Manchester United, he must be convinced in his own ability’ Former Old Trafford coach’s verdict on new boss