The Dutchman has no previous coaching experience and was a surprise addition to Benitez's backroom when the Spaniard was named as Roberto Di Matteo's replacement on Wednesday.
The former Blues winger and Benitez are now charged with picking up a Chelsea side that has won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
"The first day was absolutely hectic, a bit of madness, because no-one really knew what was going to happen and everyone has to try to find their feet again," said Zenden.
"It gives you just a short time space to prepare things. You cannot go at 200mph - it's not going work - so it will take a little bit of time. The players are willing to pick it up quickly and that's the right attitude, I guess."
On Benitez, who he played under for two years at Liverpool, he said: "He's very demanding but I think that's what you expect from a boss.
"He's someone who was really eager to win games and to pass on the message about his ideas and try to get all the players on board.
"You see that he's a tactical manager, so he likes to implement things and patterns of play and it's up to the players to pick it up - the sooner the better."
Zenden spent three years at Stamford Bridge between 2001 and 2004 and was pleased to see a lot of familiar faces when he returned.
"I played with JT and Lampard, and all the other players, I surely played against, except a few new ones that just came along this season," he said.
"But, other than that, a lot of people that work behind the scenes, people that are never in the limelight but still do a lot of work. It's good to see them again."
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