The former junior coach of Rafa Benitez is backing him for success with Real Madrid.

Rafa Guillen was coach of Benitez when he played for Real Madrid C.

He told AS: "He's a hard worker and I think will be able to apply a heavy hand to the locker room.

"He did not reach the first level (as a player), no. But that means nothing. He knows the ins and outs of a locker room and has known football since joining the Social Club tournament at only 13 years of age.

"I like that so powerful and great a club as Madrid has gone back to its origins."