Karim Benzema is in Dubai preparing for the second half of the season with his club, Al-Ittihad, after a break of almost a month. In the Emirati city, the French striker gave an extensive interview to L’Equipe in which he addressed different topics, from a possible return to the French national team to the current situation at Real Madrid.Real Madrid crisis: “What they are missing is simply a connection. Between Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham and Rodrygo. Everyone needs to know what to do on the pitch. Bellingham needs to understand that he is the playmaker, not the goalscorer. Mbappe is the goalscorer, not the playmaker. Vinicius is not a defensive midfielder, he is a left winger. As long as everyone knows what to do on the pitch, that’s it. Because we’re talking about players who are among the top 10 in the world, and they’re all on the same team.”
Ref Cam delivers a game-changing view with “Every call. Every moment. Every angle.” at MLS Cup
The coach can’t do anything, it’s a matter of players
“It’s difficult because everyone has their own personality and characteristics. Everyone wants to be the best, so it’s a bit tricky… Everyone needs to understand that, in their role, they can contribute, but it’s for the good of the team.”
If your partner is better than you, you have to accept it. The problem is not accepting that the person in front of you scores more goals
Xabi Alonso’s responsibility: “No, the coach can’t do anything. He has names, he is the one who plays best. Afterwards, it’s up to the players… If your teammate is better than you, you have to accept it. The problem is not accepting that the one in front of you scores more goals. That’s why you have problems when you have five or six great players together. They all bring something to the table. And, in the end, the goalscorer always gets a little more attention than the others. But he always needs the others! You can’t do it all on your own.”
There is no player at Real Madrid with more experience who can tell Bellingham, Mbappe or Vinicius what they are doing wrong
Ego problems: “Nowadays, there is no longer that type of player at Real Madrid. There is no more experienced player who can tell Bellingham, Mbappe or Vinicius what is wrong. So it’s complicated… The coach, in my opinion, says it, but in another way. Because nowadays, football… Frankly, it’s very complicated. Players don’t talk to each other anymore. And you can see it, in fact. It’s: ‘I did my job, I scored my goals’. That’s football nowadays.”
Today, football… Frankly, it’s very complicated. Players don’t talk to each other anymore
Accepting criticism: “Criticism is always difficult to accept. But it’s actually a step forward. If you take it well, you get better. It’s better for you and for everyone. But honestly, Madrid is tricky; there are too many good players.” Mbappe’s level: “He scores a lot of goals and will continue to do so, as he did at PSG. But the most important thing for Mbappe is that Real Madrid signed him so that, at key moments, he can win games for his team. And he is capable of doing that. That is the pressure he needs to take on and take that little step to become the leader of the attack. Because he is the one who has to lead Real Madrid to titles. Not alone, but with the others. That’s why I talked about the connection.”
If you take criticism well, you improve, but honestly, Madrid is difficult; there are too many good players
Being decisive in important matches: “Be careful! A brace or a hat-trick against Elche is difficult. That you hear ‘Elche’ does not mean that it is easy. It’s like in Saudi Arabia: if you score three goals, they say ‘only Saudi Arabia’… No. There are defenders, a goalkeeper. I’m talking about those moments when there is a game that the team has to win without fail. It’s intense! That’s what they signed him for. He has the ability, and I hope he gets it.” Playing in the World Cup: “But who doesn’t want to play in the World Cup? Everyone wants to play in this competition. As for whether I will be chosen… As I’m a lover of football and competition, obviously, if you tell me to go to the French national team to play a World Cup and I say no, I’m lying.”
Mbappe needs to step up and take that small step to become the leader of the attack; Madrid signed him to win games at key moments
Zidane: “If Zizou becomes the coach of the French national team, I wish him all the best. In any case, Zizou will win. It doesn’t matter the club, the national team… Wherever you want, he will win. That’s all. We keep talking. We have an exceptional relationship. Zizou, with his time at Madrid, is the number one coach. He is someone… who doesn’t need to talk to you. With him, you can go shopping, you can go play. It’s fluid. If he becomes the coach of the French national team, I have no doubt that he will succeed.”
