Marca traveled to Lyon, specifically the Hilton Hotel in the French city, to interview Karim Benzema, who’s spending a few days at home before joining the French national team. So here are the highlights from the interview, along with some other pieces of news, since it’s really not worth writing a whole other post for those little bits and pieces!
You didn’t start the season with many minutes, so can you say you’re satisfied with your second year in Madrid?
I think, in the end, it’s been a good year. It’s true that in the beginning it was complicated, I had some problems, but look at the results in the second half of the season. I scored 30 goals between Madrid and the national team. That’s why I believe it’s been a good year. I knew that everything would come starting in January, when I began playing more and gained minutes and confidence.
Did we see the best Benzema at the end of the season?
It’s true that in the beginning, it was hard for me. I was a bit overweight, with some physical problems… but when I was physically fit, everything went well. I believe I can still do better, and that next year, we’ll see the best Karim, because I feel good both physically and mentally.
Was the benching against Barcelona in the Champions the most difficult moment for you since you came to Madrid?
It was a very complicated moment; I can’t deny that. I was disappointed because we lost and because I couldn’t help the team, but the coach made his decision and I have to accept it. You have to know how to recover from these kinds of blows, but what’s clear is that no one likes to lose a game like this one.
The Copa was some comfort, but you didn’t play in that final either.
The Copa is my first title with Madrid. I didn’t play in the final, but I did play in important games such as those against Sevilla or Atlético. We won and it was great. Why wouldn’t I be happy even if I didn’t play?
Is the most positive thing from this season that you all no longer fear Barcelona?
We’ve always respected Barça, but there’s no difference between the two teams. They’re very good and play brilliantly, but we are also very strong. I think the equality between the two teams was seen in those last four games. All of them were hard-fought and with a bit of luck we could have done much better. To be precise, the referees didn’t help us, but you can only think about beating them the next time around.
Do you feel that Mourinho is especially demanding with you?
He demands a lot from me, but he’s made me a better player. He’s a person that loves winning, and I am as well. He’s made me grow as a footballer and as a person. I would be worried if he didn’t demand the maximum amount from me. That would mean that I don’t matter to him and that he doesn’t want me.
So you feel your coach has confidence in you?
People talk a lot, about whether he doesn’t have confidence in me, if he wants to sell me… but if you look at the number of games in which he’s played me, I think it will show that he does count on me. If he didn’t want me, he wouldn’t have given me so many minutes, no? In addition, getting playing time with Mou is something I have to do, it depends on me. I know what he wants from me and I know that I can give it to him. I have to show him that I can play on this team.
I’m on a great team and I know it will be tough to earn a spot, but I can play in Real Madrid. I repeat that it’s something that completely depends on me.
So you never thought about packing your suitcases?
No. I have a contract, I love being in Madrid, on this team, I love the fans, the people, the stadium… I’m going to be here for many years.
How would you grade this year, in terms of how the team played?
We played good games, and we have to continue along those lines. We scored 102 goals, more than Barça. It’s a lot for a team that is supposed to be defensive.
Were you surprised by Cristiano’s 41 Liga goals?
That’s a lot, it’s not easy to get to that level. I’m happy for him, he’s an excellent player because he scores many goals and helps others to score. He and I understand each other very well.
Is it true that the players feel a bit more liberated because Mou assumes all the pressure?
Mou defends his players a lot, and prefers the press to criticize him, not his players. We believe in him and we know that he’s always going to respond to us.
Have you spoken with Mou about your situation?
Some time ago, I went to speak with him, just the two of us, which is normal. I wanted to know if he was counting on me, I was worried because I read things in the press that I didn’t like. I have a lot of respect for him, but I think it’s always good to speak with the coach. This is going to be my second year with him, I’m better, I speak Spanish better, I feel good and everything is going to go well.
Zidane may take over for Valdano, what are your thoughts on this?
We speak a lot due to the common language, he always keeps an eye on me and gives me advice. He helps me.
What do you think about the support the Bernabéu has given you in the last few games?
If they’re supporting me, it’s because I’ve done well, and they’ve seen that I want to play on this team and that I bleed for them.
What title would you like to win next year?
All of them, including the Supercopa, which is the first one we have coming up. I want to win everything.
Note to Fran Rico: you’re only on Castilla, so lose the beard. Don’t forget, Castilla plays Alcoyano this Sunday at 19h in a must-win (and then some) game!
Benjamín B (you know, Theo and Marvelous’ team) beat Canillas 2-1 earlier this week (Theo scored a goal) to win their division, finishing with a record of 24-0-0!! On their way to the championship, they scored an average of 10 goals a game! ¡Increíble! Anyway, the video below shows how they did it, as well as how cute they looked doing it. I love Mario García’s haircut! And they all sound exactly like their older counterparts (a very complicated game, we played a better game with the confidence of the coach, it was very difficult, etc.). And the mini-kits are adorable as well!
And former Madrid president Ramón Calderón showed that his mental illness has progressed and gotten worse in these statements to “La Gradería” on Ona FM yesterday. On Mourinho, he said, “right now, Mourinho may be acclaimed by the fans, but Hitler was also acclaimed by millions of people before he stumbled.”
And if that’s not enough, Calderón had this to say about FP and the dismissal of Jorge Valdano: “I feel bad for Madrid and for Florentino. Yesterday, I had the sensation that I was watching a student take an exam for which he was unprepared. He spoke so much about dysfunction that I almost expected him to start talking about erectile dysfunction. That’s not anything I would wish upon him, because I want him to have a fulfilling sexual life. The image he gave was pathetic. He seemed to be a cadaver in search of a coffin.”
Speaking of coffins, Calderón drove the nails further into his own when he went on to say, “yesterday, it was confirmed that the president, despite the lack of an election, is a Portuguese named José Mourinho. This is the first time that a subordinate has dismissed his superior.” He also blabbed on about the new signings: “Sahin, Altintop and Callejón remind me of Pablo García, Gravesen and Cassano.”
He’s already apologized for these statements. I guess he never learns, does he? He really needs to think before he opens his big, fat mouth.