Benzema a frustrated figure but claims he has Mourinho backing
Karim Benzema has admitted that it is frustrating to not always be on the pitch playing for Real Madrid, but insists he has the backing of his Manager Jose Mourinho.
Benzema has been forced to compete for a starting position in the side of the current La Liga champions with team-mate Gonzalo Higuain, and has struggled to make the position his own since his move from French club Lyon three years ago.
But Higuain currently has a thigh injury, one that will reportedly keep him out for up to a month, paving the way for Benzema to capitalise and solidify a spot in the starting line-up if he can overcome a minor injury of his own ahead of the trip to Levante on Sunday.
The injury has kept the 24-year-old out of contention for a call-up to the France squad who play next week, which has further frustrated the striker.
“I have wanted to play more. From the beginning of the season I have spent more time on the bench than on the field, but I will continue fighting to get the minutes they give me,” Benzema told L’Equipe.
The player insists that Jose Mourinho is supportive of him and he bears no grudges against the man who leaves him as a bench-warmer so often.
“He’s always behind me and never lets me give up.
“When things go well, he tells me regularly and when you are not doing so well he tells me it’s okay.
“It’s all to keep me up to a high standard.”
Benzema has suffered from a goal drought so far this season and has managed to score just one goal so far.
Add that to the fact that he has not found the net in any of his last nine outings for his national side and the statistics start to look dismal for the player who scored 21 goals last season, helping Madrid to clinch the La Liga title with his valuable contributions.
But Benzema chooses to focus on his all-round contribution to the team this season and not just his quantity of goals.
“I am not worried because I have made decisive passes,” said the Santiago Bernabeu striker.
“If you want, I could stop providing assists, play on my own in the box and score goals.
“I could do that but it would be detrimental to the team.”