Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has denied that he is "too serious" a coach and that he controls such things as "olive oil on the salads."
Through his previous spells at Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli, Benitez has acquired a reputation as someone who likes to keep an eye on all the little details, with his own clear idea of how his club should be run and how his team should function on the pitch.
Since taking over at Madrid last summer there have been some reports of big-name players at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, including Cristiano Ronaldo and club captain Sergio Ramos, not feeling fully comfortable with their every move being monitored by their coach.
The former Los Blancos player and assistant coach told RNE that this public perception of him was not correct and he was still a regular guy who had changed little over the years.
"There are people who think that I am too serious," Benitez said. "I read nonsense that people believe, like I control the olive oil on the salads, or that I have banned [Sergio] Ramos from drinking beer.
"I have been away eight years, I see my barrio [neighbourhood] and the people and I greet them normally. It has changed little. Just by being Madrid coach makes you closer to people you do not have time to deal with."
The negativity he saw in media coverage of the team, who are currently unbeaten in all competitions and topping the La Liga table and their Champions League group, was surprising, Benitez said.
"This is Real Madrid and there are many demands on all levels," he said. "I am surprised that with everything going so well, things are happening as if it was not going so well. I must keep calm and keep working.
"I tell the madridistas that we have a clear idea of where we want to go, to win titles and be strong. We will try and not be diverted from this. I have a coaching staff that helps me, and I believe we are on the right path. When we do three things well, I want four."
Much of the criticism in the local press has been aimed at Madrid's medical department, but Rafa said there was nothing particularly strange about the situation which saw 10 different players sidelined through injury during October.
"Madrid attracts things that you must accept and manage," he said. "The conditions in Australia were excellent. We had 57 percent of our injuries with the national teams, that does not depend on us. When there are injured players it increases the chances of someone else getting injured, as you cannot share out the playing time.
"Even still, there are people who do not see that. All that we are doing is controlled absolutely. We do prevention, treatments and recovery. We have the most advanced specialists and physios. How many games does a Getafe player have? 45? An international at Real Madrid plays 70 games. The risk of injury is much bigger. I believe we are making good use of the squad, based on what is possible, we are doing well."
Benitez said that goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who is a doubt for Saturday's La Liga game at home to Las Palmas, was playing superbly, but he would prefer for the Costa Rica international not to be so busy during games, even while accepting his team could not be at their best in every game.
"If anybody can appreciate what Keylor does, it's me," Benitez said. "I like to praise my team, and the people do not understand that. Keylor is a great goalkeeper, but I would like if he had less work to do, as that will mean we have less problems. I would like to get off the bench five times instead of 10, but we are in a phase of improvement.
"I would like to have a bit more structure from the back. I hope that later I only have to get off the bench three times. Madrid fans want their team to win, to give their all, and to play well. If sometimes you win and do not play well the fan accepts that. We have played many good games, despite some people saying no. The first half against Celta, Athletic, Atlético, PSG. Nobody plays well all the time."