Champions League - Benzema slams Real tactics

Eurosport - Thu, 22 Oct 11:46:00 2009

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has criticised the team's attacking play, increasing the pressure on coach Manuel Pellegrini who is struggling to make his expensive squad click.

Karim Benzema, Real Madrid - 0

The French forward was speaking after Real let slip a 1-0 lead at the Bernabeu to lose 3-2 to Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"Our problem is that we don't do what we practise in training," Benzema said. "In training we look to open up the wings, to get behind the defence.

"But in games we don't manage to spread the game to the flanks. We all get in each other's way as we try to play through the middle."

Spanish newspapers agreed with Benzema's analysis as they bemoaned the continuing lack of fluency in Real Madrid's play and their failure to press home the advantage having taken an early lead against Milan.

Despite spending around 250 million euros on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is out injured, Kaka, Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Real are struggling to open up defences in the big games as happened last season under Bernd Schuster and Juande Ramos.

"October is advancing and Pellegrini is exactly where he was (when he started). At kilometre zero," sports daily AS wrote.

Marca said: "Real continued in their uncomfortable search for a plan. The team had its moments, but later lapsed into imprecision and melancholy."

Real coach Pellegrini was on the back foot in the post-match news conference and again called for patience.

"I'm not particularly concerned to have lost to Sevilla and Milan, the most important teams we have played so far, because they are developed sides that have been playing together for some time," he said.

"This season we have had a few poor minutes but too much is being made of these. For the most part we have played well. The results have been good and we are improving.

"We have a lot of work still to do to improve on an individual and collective level."

Real's next match is away to Sporting Gijon in La Liga on Saturday.

Reuters

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. u don't kn wat u are saying kaka can play in any­ team

    From chukwuemeka, on Mon 26 Oct 11:15AM

  2. man utd r doing fine without ronaldo. real madrid do­ really need him back but i dont see them winning­ anything and hope to see ronaldo back at manchester­ united his 'Real' dream and team.

    From nisar, on Sun 25 Oct 10:25AM

  3. Kaka is a great footballer. he is jst settled with the­ way the team plays. he is still trying to get used to­ it..have u noticed that when marcelo is running­ forward, he usually gives it to kaka where he wants it,­ bcos he knows kaka very well..so if u say kaka is a­ waste product, then u dnt knw anything about football.­ KAKA still one of the best, jst watch and see.

    From Alex, on Sat 24 Oct 8:57PM

  4. Kaka is a waste product,..he has made Benzema looks­ useless in all matches..65 million euros for a kaka is­ a waste of thing,...I think Pelligrini will be careful­ to avoid early sack.

    He has no tactics and its­ affecting the whole team,..Abelao must give a great­ chance to prove his worth in that right flank..Cos­ Sergio Ramos is also a waste product.Please use­ M.Diarra intead of Kaka..and will be quick to loan him­ to Malaga or Sporting Gijon where he desrve to be...

    From FlirtiStarr6699, on Fri 23 Oct 8:00PM

  5. "But in games we don't manage to spread the­ game to the flanks. We all get in each other's way­ as we try to play through the middle"..

    Way to­ beat around the bush.. we all know you meant to say­ "Stop getting in my way, play your position and­ pass me the ball so I can the score goals."

    From G, on Fri 23 Oct 7:33PM

  6. You know who doesn't get in each other's way?­ Manchester United. Probably should've joined them­ when they wanted you, but now the window's gone.­ Maybe if you pray real hard Alex will give you a second­ chance to play for a "real" club. All you­ need is a bit of development and you can be world­ class, sadly you won't get it playing second fiddle­ to Raul / Ronaldo and for a coach whose biggest concern­ is handling egos and not getting sacked.

    From G, on Fri 23 Oct 7:28PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!!­ Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!!­ Hala Madrid!! LOVE YOU!! YOU ARE ALWAYS WINNERS EVEN­ WHEN YOU LOOOOOOOSEEE!

    From chechenr, on Fri 23 Oct 3:26PM

  8. real should buy villa indeed benzema, silva indeed­ trying to buy ribery.

    From Hafiz, on Fri 23 Oct 1:59PM

  9. madrid shouldnt have got rid of robben coz he is class­ united should have bought him hope madrid do well for­ ronaldo's sake coz he is the best player in the­ world by far good luck rocket ronnie

    From jaybrayford, on Fri 23 Oct 12:45PM

  10. Have said it b4 that the coach will definitely have­ selection problem because these guys they are buying­ are playing in diff.league and you want them to play as­ a team you will have to be patient about that,and so­ also kaka is not doing well at all so is like he only­ play well when ronaldo is on the pitch,i wish them­ well.

    From oyedeji, on Fri 23 Oct 11:20AM

  11. now you mknow how to handle stars??? hahahaha... shame­ on milion dollars but lose....

    From Ben, on Fri 23 Oct 10:16AM

  12. Benzema is absolutely right ,kaka is just a waste of­ money he is waiting for Ronaldo to come on and give him­ a penalty ,Ronaldo worth what he is paid for ,Benzema­ is better than kaka ,

    From lacson.lacson, on Fri 23 Oct 6:50AM

  13. Good luck Real Ronaldo on winning something worth­ something this season, it's actually sad cause I­ was hoping to see Real and ManU or Chelsea in the­ final, but it's not looking likely...for that­ amount of money, talent and egos you should be sad when­ you don't win a game by more then two goals, not­ from loosing...you shouldn't even know how to­ loose, oh well...

    From jumaford, on Thu 22 Oct 10:41PM

  14. should come to manutd...made big MISTAKE karim!!

    From Adnan, on Thu 22 Oct 8:55PM

  15. na na na na na na na na na hay hay hay

    na na na na na­ na na na na hay hay hay

    ronnie ronaldo boy you idiot­
    real madrid ain't no TEAM they are a bunch of­ over paid individual players
    yu'll see by the end­ of the season you made the wrong choice ronnie boy

    From Karen C, on Thu 22 Oct 6:31PM

  16. na na na na na na na na na hay hay hay

    na na na na na­ na na na na hay hay hay

    ronnie ronaldo boy you idiot­
    real madrid ain't no TEAM they are a bunch of­ over paid individual players
    yu'll see by the end­ of the season you made the wrong choice ronnie boy

    From Karen C, on Thu 22 Oct 6:31PM

  17. na na na na na na na na na hay hay hay

    na na na na na­ na na na na hay hay hay

    ronnie ronaldo boy you idiot­
    real madrid ain't no TEAM they are a bunch of­ over paid individual players
    yu'll see by the end­ of the season you made the wrong choice ronnie boy

    From Karen C, on Thu 22 Oct 6:28PM

  18. RONALDO WHO????..united still win games without­ ronaldo,soon u all will see that united still win­ trophies without ronaldo..so,who the F is ronaldo..u­ want to win trophies play for man united,but if u want­ to become a looser play for liverfools "The­ Ultimate F*@%ing Looser"..hahaha..Glory Glory Man­ United.

    From Zaireen, on Thu 22 Oct 3:12PM

  19. the whinging is starting already poor madrid over 200­ million spent and your still s.h.i.t

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 22 Oct 2:47PM

  20. should have signed for united then benzema as madrid­ will win nothing this season and will only win when­ ronaldo is playing .meaning most teams will try and­ take him out then your fooked ha ha ha

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 22 Oct 2:43PM
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