Sunday 10 January 2016 14:41, UK
Luka Modric believes Real Madrid's drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna in Zinedine Zidane's first game as manager shows the Frenchman is the right man for the job.
Modric expressed his sympathy with Rafa Benitez, who was sacked and replaced by Zidane last week after just seven months in charge, but concluded somebody had needed to pay the price for an indifferent run of results.
Gareth Bale netted a hat-trick and Karim Benzema scored twice as Real ran out 5-0 victors - and moved to within a point of Atletico Madrid - at the Bernabeu as fans united in hailing their hero Zidane.
"I am sorry for Rafa and I would like to thank him for his work, but being honest and seeing today's game I think that the change has been positive," Modric told reporters.
"When you lose there is always someone who has to pay,
"You just have to compare this match with the previous ones. The team's attitude was different and hopefully we can continue in the same way."
One of the reasons Real president Florentino Perez decided to discard Benitez and promote former Castilla boss Zidane was the apparent breakdown in the relationship with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.
The change in the dynamic with Zidane at the helm was palpable on Saturday, with a determined performance moving Los Blancos to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
"We played a lot more rapidly and we functioned as a team in the way was always should function," Modric added.
"Today we were a team from the start, up front, at the back and in the middle.
"What we did against Deportivo was to pressure higher up the pitch and win back a lot of balls and when we had possession we were very dangerous."
Zidane will be hoping for a repeat performance in Real's next outing - a La Liga clash at home to Sporting Gijon next weekend.
