Benitez: We’re all responsible for Clasico humbling

Mark Holmes
Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos: Look on as Barcelona celebrate

Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos: Look on as Barcelona celebrate

Rafael Benitez called for everyone to take their share of responsibility after Real Madrid were humiliated 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico at the Bernabeu.

Luis Suarez gave the visitors an 11th-minute lead on Saturday evening, Neymar doubled the advantage before the break and in the second period Andres Iniesta scored a goal worthy of his all-action performance.

Suarez added a fourth, following a pass from substitute Messi.

Benitez called for his side to react quickly to a second successive league defeat, this humiliation following the 3-2 reverse to Sevilla a fortnight ago.

“We are all to blame and now we need to unite and work hard. The thing I’m concerned about the most is recovering the team’s spirit,” he said.

“Losing like this and against a rival like Barcelona hurts us a lot. We just have to unite and work hard to get three points from our next game so we can stay in the fight for the title.

“We did start how we wanted to. Our aim was to attack, put pressure on them and win the ball back high up the pitch.

“We did it on occasion, but at other moments we couldn’t and we were made to pay. We picked a team of top quality and experienced players, but it did not go well.

“When I pick a team I try to manage the squad I have in the best way I can and the team I put out was capable of a lot more quality.

“We are all responsible, but now we have to recover from this and try and give the fans something to celebrate, something we weren’t able to do today.”