Rafa Benitez Denies Enforcing Strict Measures on Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid Squad

Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has denied speculation of a divide between him and his players after it was reported he's prohibited captain Sergio Ramos from drinking beer and kept a close check on the squad's diet.

The former Liverpool helmsman spoke to Radio Nacional on Thursday and rubbished such claims, adding his shock to see so much gossip surrounding matters off the pitch (h/t Daily Mail's John Downes):

"

I've read that Benitez measures the amount of olive oil in the salads, or that Benitez banned Sergio Ramos from drinking beer, that was another ridiculous story doing the rounds. 

Around my friends I act exactly the way I always have.

I'm surprised that despite all the good things happening, people have to focus on the bits we're not doing so well. 

I always say the same things to the Madridistas. We know where we want to be and we don't want to veer off that path. 

We listen to voices outside the club but I have a team that advises me and keeps me focused on our goals.

"

Regardless of what methods Benitez has employed since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu over the summer, they appear to be working for the club following Real's rise to the top of La Liga after nine games this season.

They sit level on 21 points with Barcelona and boast the best defence in Europe's top five leagues, having conceded just three goals this term, while they also sit at the top of their Champions League group.

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

In an ideal world, we might like to see players doing their utmost to succeed irrespective of who's at a club's helm, but the modern age of football has seen players take more control in these matters than ever before.

He might be doing a great job so far in the eyes of some, but Benitez's place in the Spanish capital is far from safe, according to ESPN's John Brewin:

The fact is Benitez won't be properly judged until we get closer to the end of the campaign and are able to assess Los Merengues' chances of picking up some major silverware.

Carlo Ancelotti, the manager whom Benitez replaced earlier this year, brought Real an illustrious 10th European title and was thought by some to be taking the team in a positive direction prior to his axing in May.

However, a trophy-less season is effectively unacceptable for a club of Real's stature, and unless Benitez can quickly prove to be having a galvanising effect on the team, he'll continue to have his doubters.

Paul White/Associated Press

One who certainly isn't among that contingent is Castilla coach and former Real star Zinedine Zidane, who reinforced what a great job the first-team boss is doing, per Spanish newspaper AS: “Real Madrid coach? We’ll see, for now my day-to-day work is something different. Benitez is good for the team and is doing a great job."

Whether it's less olive oil on their salads or the enforcement of a beer-free zone, Benitez's reign at Real is so far having a positive impact, but it's a natural expectation for those around the club to always seek more.

Benitez is eager to distance himself from the taskmaster image some would paint of him, but critics may not be so quick to judge in future if his ways carry on paving the way to success.