Real Madrid's Karim Benzema not bothered by 'selfish' Cristiano Ronaldo, praises Jose Mourinho
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Updated 13/11/2017 at 11:18 GMT
Karim Benzema says he has no problem playing with Cristiano Ronaldo, even though the Portugal star is ‘more selfish’ than he is.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid comes on for Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the UEFA Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Manchester United at the Philip II Arena on August 8, 2017 in Skopje, Macedonia.
Image credit: Getty Images
The 29-year-old insists he gets on well with last year's Ballon d'Or winner but believes his achievements have been overshadowed by Ronaldo’s exploits.
“At Real, I score, but when the guy who is next to you scores 50 per season (you can not do anything),” Benzema told Canal+ .
“It's different from how I played at Lyon. I just like football and winning titles. I'm having fun.
Ronaldo and I, we get on well. I like playing with him. He likes to play with one touch of the ball. He is more selfish than me, but that's normal. That does not bother me. Finally, it's good for the team.
Benzema also admitted he is surprised he has managed to stay in the Real team for so long, and insisted he is calm despite numerous calls for him to be dropped.
“I did not imagine that I would stay at Real Madrid for nine years,” he added. “When I was at Lyon, I imagined moving to Real to win titles. The most difficult thing in Madrid is the pressure.
“The debate about me? It's to sell papers. I got used to it. I focus on the football. With age, I have learned to stay calm.”
Benzema, who is still exiled from the France team after he was charged by police in 2015 in connection to an alleged blackmail attempt involving countryman Mathieu Valbuena, also praised former Real manager, Jose Mourinho, who is now at Manchester United.
Benzema said: “Mourinho helped me a lot. It's his character. It stings you every time and you surpass yourself on the field.
“He is a good coach.”
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