Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez spoke on Tuesday (1st December) after overseeing his side's final preparations ahead of the Spanish Copa del Rey clash with Cadiz on Wednesday (2nd December).

SOUNDBITE (English) Rafa Benitez, Real Madrid head coach:

"In my experience, in the Cup you have to be very concentrated, you have to pick players that will do their best, that´s the key factor for me. Players that will be ready to challenge against Cadiz. It will be very difficult in the beginning and will depends on our commitment and quality. It will also depend on Cadiz but I have confidence that we can do well."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rafa Benitez, Real Madrid head coach (about alleged tensions with James Rodriguez):

"We keep on forgetting, in every analysis we make, he's a player who has been injured for 55 days. There's no problem with him, he's an excellent player. The more he practises and the more he plays, the closer he will be to being the best James, who is the one we all know and want to see."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Rafa Benitez, Real Madrid head coach (on the statement of the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls: "If Karim Benzema is not exemplary he doesn't have a place in the national team"):

"He is a key player for us. I said this before: as a person he is sensational, everyone who has ever treated Karim knows that, and he's got our full support. As a football player, what can I say? He's basic for us, he´s a reference, he gives us quality and he even makes those around him play better."