Modric thanked Benitez for his contribution but feels that the change is a good thing for the club.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric believes that the sacking of Rafa Benitez has been good for the Spanish club and that the result of Saturday’s match proves it. Zinedine Zidane, who was once a player himself for Real Madrid took charge of the Madrid squad after the departure of the Spaniard.
The Frenchman led Madrid to a 5-0 win in his first game as head coach where the Los Blancos were up against Deportivo la Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu
Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick and Karim Benzema scored two more goals to give Madrid a decisive victory. Zidane, on appointment as the manager, had promised beautiful and attacking football and his players did deliver that. Madrid used the pace in the wings to stretch the game and feed long balls for the flexible strikers. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, failed to find the net but did come close several times during the game.
The atmosphere at the Bernabeu was uncomfortable as apparently many important players in the Madrid squad were unhappy with the way he ran things. Modric has now somewhat confirmed that apparent conjecture by revealing his thoughts on the Spanish manager’s departure. According to the Croatian, the result of the Spaniard departure has been positive.
"I want to thank him for what he has done. But to be honest, I think the change has been good. Whenever you lose, someone always has to pay, but to be honest, you only have to compare this game with the previous ones," Modric said after the match.
However, one must never give in to complacency at Real Madrid. It is to be remembered that Zidane is just in line with several other great names like Pellegrini. Ancelotti, Mourinho, Benitez who have arrived at Madrid and the slightest slip have seen them being thrown out by the club president Florentino Perez.
Right after Zidane was elected as the manager to replace Benitez, Raymond Domenech who was the head-coach of France during the 2006 World Cup said,
" Zidane is a myth. A myth capable of setting off emotions in people and not only positive ones. He’s not a smooth star, he’s not a nice guy. He’s capable of anything and that’s what makes him a human god." The 63-year-old went on to say "“From now on, Zidane will be judged on his results. If he’s a champion, his legend will reinforce itself."
"But if that’s not the case, it will be another story. Mourinho was a god too and we see what’s happened to him. Sport is ruthless."