<h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Real Madrid kick off a new era under manager Rafael Benitez when the Spanish giants take on Italy's AS Roma in the International Champions Cup at the Melbourne Criket Ground on Saturday.</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu in June, said his focus is on strengthening the side's defence ahead of the La Liga season.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez's side have so far made just one major summer signing -- Brazilian right-back Danilo who arrived from FC Porto -- but have been strongly linked with Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea as a replacement for Iker Casillas who has left for Porto.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">He also will be trying to retain Spanish international centre-back Sergio Ramos.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez would not be drawn Friday on whether de Gea would be his new man in goal but suggested an incoming goalkeeper was imminent.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"(Keylor) Navas is our number one at the moment ... he's more experienced so he's at the front right now," Benitez told reporters.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We've got two keepers that the press is talking about ... Kiko Casilla and De Gea.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"De Gea is not our player at the moment and it is not our subject (to talk about)".</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez said club president Florentino Perez's wish for Ramos to remain in Madrid would prevail.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I have spoken with him at length in the (northern) summer about his ideas and his future and I see Sergio as an integral part of our team," he said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"He's a winner and that's what we need in our team."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez is fully aware of the expectation that comes with coaching of the ten-time European champions, who finished runners-up in La Liga last season behind rivals Barcelona.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Real's directors showed little sentiment by sacking former boss Ancelotti just a season after a drought-breaking European Champions League win.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">To the club's executives, a Club World Cup success, second place in La Liga and making the last four in Europe last season was a sackable offence.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But Benitez, 55, hopes his stint coaching the club where he played as a junior will bring success back to Real.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I know the city, I know the fans, I know the club ... this is an advantage," he said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"What I have to do (in Madrid) is more or less every day is the same (at other clubs), to train, to coach, to prepare.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Hopefully it will be good, we have a good team, the players will do it for me, winning games, and I can just try to enjoy."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Benitez was not pleased with the state of the MCG pitch ahead of the opening game in the three-team International Champions Cup, also featuring English giants Manchester City.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I have to say, the pitch was not the best," he said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We have to be aware of that, we have an important game, important players so hopefully they can do their best for the game."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The MCG has been hit by a solid week of rain after 15 rounds of the Australian Football League season.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p>