Benzema left the Santiago Bernabéu pitch crestfallen. And not because of the whistles from the crowd. Not even the words of consolation which came from teammates and friends alike gave him solace. "It's okay, you played a good match", the Frenchman was told. But the striker's answer was always the same. "No, I should have scored".
That is the hub of the matter for Benzema. He will not let the whistles get him down, he is prepared for that kind of pressure, but he knows that, as a forward, he should have successfully converted some of the clear opportunities he had. Summing it up perfectly to another teammate, he said: "I understand why the crowd is angry, but I'm more disappointed than anyone that I didn't score".
He was surprised by the whistles in the first few minutes because that was when he was moving around, running and putting the pressure on most. The player has been advised to be more expressive and communicative on the pitch, and put more passion into his game, because the talent is already there. And that was what he did, as soon as the ball was in play, which is the reason the first reproaches took him by surprise, seeming unfair to him. He knows, however, that the fans are entitled to express themselves as they wish.
Real's number nine is very grateful to his teammates, who came to his defence, to the part of the crowd that supported him and applauded him as he went off. The support displayed by Zidane and Ancelotti when he got back to the bench was a big comfort to him. As was that of his idol, Ronaldo Nazario: "Karim is doing a good job. He is playing alongside Cristiano, who always steals the limelight".
That is the hub of the matter for Benzema. He will not let the whistles get him down, he is prepared for that kind of pressure, but he knows that, as a forward, he should have successfully converted some of the clear opportunities he had. Summing it up perfectly to another teammate, he said: "I understand why the crowd is angry, but I'm more disappointed than anyone that I didn't score".
He was surprised by the whistles in the first few minutes because that was when he was moving around, running and putting the pressure on most. The player has been advised to be more expressive and communicative on the pitch, and put more passion into his game, because the talent is already there. And that was what he did, as soon as the ball was in play, which is the reason the first reproaches took him by surprise, seeming unfair to him. He knows, however, that the fans are entitled to express themselves as they wish.
Real's number nine is very grateful to his teammates, who came to his defence, to the part of the crowd that supported him and applauded him as he went off. The support displayed by Zidane and Ancelotti when he got back to the bench was a big comfort to him. As was that of his idol, Ronaldo Nazario: "Karim is doing a good job. He is playing alongside Cristiano, who always steals the limelight".
Arbeloa appealed to fans to clap Benzema
Every chance missed by Karim Benzema on Sunday was greeted with groans and jeers. This footage from 'La Sexta' shows Álvaro Arbeloa bucking the striker up on the pitch and encouraging the fans to get behind him. Ángel di María later came out in support of the Frenchman in the mixed zone.
FLORENTINO RULES OUT NEW WINTER SIGNINGS
Real shields Benzema!!!
The judgement passed by the Bernabéu on Benzema only holds ground on the terraces. The doubts expressed by a faction of the fans have not permeated into either the boardroom or the coaching staff offices, where the French player has the club's full backing.
Florentino Pérez dispelled any concerns the forward could have regarding competition for his spot on the opening of the winter market. There will be no signings, so the pressure will remain the same: that which Benzema puts on himself in addition to the ambition of up-and-coming academy players Jesse and Morata and the possibility that Cristiano plays further up the field, although the Portuguese player prefers to be out on the wing.
Support for the French player is demonstrated in every game. Ancelotti has no doubt who his number '9' is. Never before, since joining Real Madrid over four seasons ago, has Benzema made the starting eleven seven times running, as he looks set to do on Wednesday at the Martínez Valero in Elche.
He has had starter status for six consecutive games on two previous occasions, once in the 2010-11 season - Depor, Malaga, Racing, Hercules, Lyon in the Champions League, and Atlético - and secondly in the 2011-12 campaign - the last four league games against Barça, Sevilla, Granada and Mallorca, plus the Champions League semi-finals against Bayern.
Higuaín's departure has released him from a battle, now being the best placed to play every game, having always had to compete with the Argentine during his first few years. He also competed with Raúl, Van Nistelrooy and Adebayor, the reason he has never before enjoyed the level of continuity he now has.
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