Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez said he was "optimistic" but there was "more work to be done" after his first game in charge brought an opening La Liga weekend 0-0 draw at newly-promoted Sporting Gijon.
Madrid as expected dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes at El Molinon, but their galactico-packed team was held up by the well-organised defence of a financially-troubled club whose summer transfer business was limited to bringing in three young players on loan.
With the local press in the Spanish capital already pointing out that Madrid have now failed to score in five of their nine games under Benitez (including preseason friendlies), the former Los Blancos fan, player and youth coach told his postgame news conference that his team would improve after more work on the training ground.
"I knew it was going to be a game that Sporting would make difficult for us," he said. "We needed to be rapid and precise. There were a lot of shots without precision. In the first half we gave Sporting their chances. There must be more work done."
A second half push saw Madrid push Sporting back and finish the game with 27 shots in total, eight on target, but still not find a way past the home keeper and former Atletico Madrid youth team player Ivan Cuellar.
Rafa said he was nonetheless "optimistic" about how his team had played in the second half.
"The reaction in the second half was good. The team showed character and personality. That makes me optimistic. The second half was a team which clearly went for the game. We just lacked the final pass and the finish."
Madrid's attacking lineup saw Gareth Bale play as a roving No. 10, with Jese Rodriguez starting at centre-forward until he was replaced early in the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo then finished the game as Madrid's reference point in attack.
Benitez said it was his plan to give his big name attackers the freedom to express themselves and find space on the pitch.
"To get performance out of the players we have, we must give them a certain liberty," he said. "We have seen many attacking moves, but there was a lack of spaces."