'Benitez is the solution' - does anybody believe Florentino Perez any more?

There was a sense of déjà vu as Florentino Perez addressed the media on Monday. The Real Madrid president took time out of his hectic schedule to back Rafa Benitez as he claimed the Spanish coach has his total and complete condifence. But for how long?

Benitez is under pressure just 16 games into his tenure after Madrid's disastrous defeat at home to fierce rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. However, the 55-year-old can take little comfort from the words of the club chief. This vote of confidence means next to nothing.

Perez, of course, has been here before. In January 2013, the construction magnate met the media to deny a story in Marca about an alleged ultimatum to Jose Mourinho from club captains Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos.

Florentino assured those present that Mourinho was the best man for the job and that the Portuguese coach was in Madrid's future plans. Four months later he was gone.

It happened again with Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian brought La Decima in his first campaign, but his second season went somewhat off the rails towards the end amid a severe injury crisis. In March Perez called a press conference to tell the Madrid media that reports of him sacking were completely false. Two months later he did exactly that, and Ancelotti was out.

On Monday, just as with Mourinho in January 2013 and with Ancelotti in March of this year, Perez insisted that Madrid have complete faith in Benitez, while denying that his players are unhappy. Rafa, he says, needs time.

But how much time will he be given? Mourinho got four months after his vote of confidence in 2013; Ancelotti just two earlier this year. So Florentino's words would appear to mean very little at this stage.

"We have decided that Rafa Benitez has all of our support and confidence," he said. "Benitez was chosen for his professionalism, his career and his experience. He has the ability to take this team forward. He needs time. Let's allow him to work."

At the moment, there appears little alternative. Club icon Zinedine Zidane is being groomed for the job in future and is currently in charge of Real's B side Castilla, but the former France captain admitted this week that he is not ready to step up to the first team.

Perez first presided over Madrid between 2000 and 2006, when he resigned after a period of poor results in a time when Barcelona began their era of dominance domestically and in Europe.

He then returned amid much fanfare in 2009 with the promise to make Madrid the best team in Spain, Europe and the world. But six years on, Real have claimed only one Champions League crown and one Liga title. Barca, by comparison, have been European and domestic champions three and five times respectively.

Saturday's 4-0 loss at home to the Catalan club showed Madrid are currently a million miles behind their eternal enemies. The white handkerchiefs were out against both Benitez and Perez during the game along with chants of "Florentino, resign!"

Asked about those calls on Monday, Perez claimed those responsible were a "small sector" of the club's fanbase and added that media outlets reporting the information were part of a "campaign" against the 68-year-old.

"The chants always come from the same place," he said. "Ever since we moved the Ultras Sur (the club's radical fans), they have been intimidating me. I would ask the socios not to be influenced by those people because they don't belong in the Bernabeu."

He then added: "I respect all of Real Madrid's fans. It's a demanding fanbase. But I do believe there is a campaign against me. You know it, I know it, we all know it."

Most startling, there no hint of self-criticism or the notion that mistakes had been made in the past.

In a clear dig at Ancelotti, he said: "There has been a gradual deterioration in the squad since January." And asked about how he backed the Italian only to dismiss him in May, the president added: "All I said was that he would be the coach the following Sunday because one newspaper said otherwise."

That was not exactly the case, although it is true that he did refuse to confirm Ancelotti would be the coach the following season - just as he did not specify how long Benitez would be given this time either.

"Benitez is the solution," he said. But later on, he added: "Who knows what can happen in six months?"

Or in his case, four months, two, or even a week.

Regardless of whether Rafa is dismissed in the coming weeks or months, events on Saturday showed madridistas are starting to look at the bigger picture and Florentino is facing a growing backlash from fans. Just like he did in 2005 after a 3-0 Clasico loss to Barcelona when Ronaldinho was applauded by the Real supporters - as Andres Iniesta was this time.

Back then, he lasted three more months before tendering his resignation. And as discontent grows in his second spell in charge, so too does the pressure on the president as the failings echo those from his first mandate. More déjà vu for Perez to ponder.