Raphael Varane defends Madrid tactics as PSG's Blanc calls Benitez 'defensive'

Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane has
defended coach Rafael Benitez's tactical
approach, saying this season's Los Blancos side
were an "attacking team" who "score loads of
goals" despite recent criticism.
Madrid have netted six times and conceded none
during their first two Champions League fixtures
this term, but in La Liga have twice been held to
0-0 draws by Sporting Gijon and Malaga. They
also failed to press on when 1-0 up at Atletico
Madrid recently, conceding a late equaliser to
their cross-city rivals.
Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group
A game at Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 side's
coach Laurent Blanc suggested the game would
be "a clash of two styles," with Madrid "quite
defensive but very efficient."
This led to Benitez repeatedly telling critics who
thought he was too defensive to "look at the
numbers" which show his team has scored more
goals [18 in eight games] than any Primera Liga
side so far this season.
Varane was also asked by reporters at the Parc
des Princes if he thought Madrid did not attack
enough in games, and the France international
replied that his team always went out to win
games -- whether by dominating possession or by
countering cleverly.
"We always go out to win games, score goals and
attack," Varane said. "That's our philosophy.
Everyone has their own opinion but what
interests me most right now is talking about
tomorrow's match. Both teams like having
possession.
"We know how to dominate possession and how
to hit teams on the break. We have an attacking
playing style. We score loads of goals, we create a
lot of chances and our intention is to always push
forward."
Wednesday's meeting of two teams still unbeaten
all season could go a long way to deciding who
wins Group A, and Varane said that Madrid
wanted to control the game and increase their
chances of making the round of 16.
"Our aim is to reach the round of 16 and if we
finish top of the group, then all the better," he
said. "It'll be a great game. PSG like to have the
ball. We want to hold onto possession as well and
cause them problems with the individual and
collective quality we possess. Controlling the
game will be very important tomorrow."
Madrid have travelled without injured players
including Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Pepe,
Alvaro Arbeloa and Dani Carvajal, while welcoming
back playmaker Luka Modric and defender Sergio
Ramos.
Varane is confident Los Blancos have the squad
depth to cover such absences, saying: "Our goal
is to win titles and we'll need the whole squad in
order to achieve that. We are preparing for this
game with an eye to winning it.
"We'll be missing important players, but that
won't change how we approach this match. We'll
go out with the same hunger and with the same
philosophy as always."
The former Lens youth player, now 22, said that
such a game between two top teams would likely
be decided by the little details.
"PSG have evolved a lot and are one of the best
sides in Europe," he added. "We take them very
seriously. They have top quality players and
they're eager to show what they can do. I'm
certain we can put in a great performance and
win.
"We need to start the game hungry to win it,
create as much danger as we can and make
them second guess themselves. This is a top-
drawer fixture, neither team is favourite and it will
come down to the small details. We have to keep
the number of mistakes we commit as low as
possible."
Meanwhile, Djibril Cisse -- who announced his
retirement this week -- said Benitez was one of
the best managers he ever worked with.
Cisse, 34, was part of the Liverpool squad that
won the 2005 Champions League with the help of
the Spanish coach's guidance, and told RMC: "In
terms of intelligence and adapting to the
opposing team's plan, he was the best I came
across in my career.
"He was very intelligent and very strong
tactically. He knows how to talk to his players and
make them face up to their responsibilities
without ordering them around too much."


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