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Benitez happy as Madrid win ahead of China tour
Melbourne: Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez was a happier man after his side ended its visit to Australia with a 4-1 win over an under-strength Manchester City here.
Goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Denis Cheryshev gave Real Madrid a victory on Friday which helps them forget their defeat to Roma in their first friendly of the summer, as per reports.
Real Madrid will now fly to China where they will face Inter Milan and AC Milan in Guangzhou and Shanghai on the back of what Benitez described as a “good game in both attack and defence. It is still pre-season, but it is positive to see the team looking ordered and playing at a good level”.
He brushed aside questions over Ronaldo’s loss of temper in Thursday’s training session while adding Luka Modric would recover from what looked like slight physical problems and repeated he was sure central defender Sergio Ramos would remain despite pressing for a move to Manchester United. Benitez also showed his confidence to goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
“We wanted to give him the chance to play and feel comfortable and he did well. We will see what happens with (new signing Kiko) Casilla. There is no hurry,” said the Real Madrid coach. He was also asked about David de Gea, but said he “was satisfied” with the job his keepers had done to date.
Finally, Benitez looked ahead to Real Madrid’s days in China admitting it would be “complicated”.
“My experience tells me that long trips are complicated which is why it was important to work first in Australia where there were good conditions. It is harder in China. We have to travel every three days and it will be hot and humid,” he said.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.