Real Madrid have given under-fire coach Rafael Benitez a vote of confidence and said he will remain in charge of the team.

Club president Florentino Perez said at a press conference on Monday evening, following a board meeting held in the wake of Real’s 4-0 thrashing by arch-rivals Barcelona in Saturday’s El Clasico meeting in Madrid, that Benitez has “all our support and confidence”.

Benitez has only been in charge of Madrid since the summer but his future has been the subject of much discussion after a second successive defeat left them six points adrift of Primera Division leaders Barca.