Benitez, Bale have no room for error

New coach and rejuvenated star expected to motivate Madrid

When a visibly nervous Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was grilled by the media after sacking Carlo Ancelotti in May, he comically responded that he "didn't know" where the Italian had failed in his two years in charge.

Ancelotti delivered the coveted La Decima, the club's 10th European Cup, and three other trophies but his inability to win a major title last season proved fatal to his chances of remaining in the hot seat at the Bernabeu.