Perez: Zidane will be Real Madrid coach... but Benitez's job is safe

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says Zinedine Zidane will coach the club in the future but insists Rafa Benitez's job is safe.

Madrid's 1-0 defeat against Villarreal last week was their third in La Liga in five matches, and they now trail Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by five points.

Benitez has been dogged by reports in Spain about unhappiness in the dressing room but Perez has continued to give him his full backing.

"It's not true that the players don't get along with Benitez," Perez told El Larguero. "I have spoken with them.

"[Benitez] is not the problem, he's the solution. Zinedine will not replace him. He is the trainer of Madrid and we picked him because we think he's the ideal person for the job.

"We need to give Benitez time and let him do his job."

Perez did admit, however, to being impressed by Zidane's progression as a coach with Real Madrid's B team.

"What can I say about him? They still give me thanks in the streets for signing him," he added.

"He will be the trainer of Madrid in the future. You can see it. He has learned in leaps and bounds."