Benzema: “My play against Atletico is bigger than a goal for me”

Real Madrid attacker Karim Benzema featured in a documentary from RMC Sports about his four Champions League titles with the club. The striker talked about many moments from his career in Madrid, from his role in the BBC attacking trio to his favorite moments wearing the white shirt.

“With the BBC you had a rocket in Bale, the goalscorer in Cristiano Ronaldo and then I was the piece that held everything together and made it work,” says Benzema.

“I was the finisher in Lyon but here the finisher was Cristiano Ronaldo, I played another role with him. I scored goals but I was more involved in playmaking, trying to give him room to operate. You don’t necessarily have to be the main scorer just because you’re wearing the number 9, it’s a different style of play. Perhaps in the past that man wearing number 9 was the finisher, but we had a winger who liked to go to the center of the offensive line and I got away to give him room and let him score. He was clearly the scorer even though he was on the left,” explains Benzema.

The Frenchman has been in the club for the last 10 years but his favorite memories in the club are two: his goal in the Final against Liverpool and his brilliant play at the Vicente Calderon against Atletico de Madrid in the Champions League.

“I needed to score in a Champions League Final. What I felt with that goal is just one of the best feelings I’ve had since I’m playing football. For me, the Champions League is as big as the World Cup,” says the attacker.

For him, the play against Atletico defines him as an attacker.

“That’s how I define football. If I’m a fan, I’m paying the ticket to see things like that one, because you’re always going to see goals being scored, but those plays are not common. You have everything there, the speed, the control of the ball, the pass, and to do it in that kind of game against Atletico... For me it’s bigger than a goal. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve done in the Champions League, even though it’s not on my stats. People care about numbers, but that play...” reveals the attacker.

President Florentino Perez appears in the documentary as well and shared his thoughts on that very same play.

“That play is not only in Real Madrid’s history books, it’s also history of football. It’s a play which belongs in art museums like El Prado or the Louvre,” says Perez.

Benzema has started the season in good form and appears ready to lead Real Madrid’s offense for a second straight season, although he will need more help if the team wants to be successful.