(Madrid) “For me, it’s the best,” French Real Madrid coach Zinédine Zidane assured Tuesday night after the 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao over French center-forward Karim Benzema, double author (75e, 90e+2) to give the Madrilenians victory and tie for first place in La Liga.
Posted on December 15, 2020 at 7:50 p.m.
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Asked at a post-match press conference on whether Benzema is the greatest French center-forward in history, Zidane immediately replied: “For me, yes. He proves it, he has been playing for Real Madrid for a very long time, he has more than 500 games, all the goals… In the end, his record, everything he has accomplished here speaks for itself ”.
“For me it’s the best, yes, it’s very clear,” said the Marseille technician.
“Today, he’s a more mature player. But he has always shown that it is not a pure N.9, he does not think only of scoring. That’s why I like him so much, I love him, he doesn’t just have goals in mind. He intervenes in the game, if it is necessary to pass a teammate he will do it… That’s what I like about his football, ”“ Zizou ”praised again Tuesday night after the match.
PHOTO BERNAT ARMANGUE, AP
Karim Benzema
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“He has both sides (scorer and complete striker). And when it comes to scoring goals, even when he’s not having a great game like this (Tuesday) night, well he scores two goals. That’s what he is, Karim, “ZZ” concluded, all smiles.
Arrived at Real Madrid in 2009 from Lyon, Karim Benzema grew up for a long time in the shadow of the five-time Ballon d’Or Cristiano Ronaldo, to overtake on Saturday the Brazilian Roberto Carlos as the non-Spanish player with the greatest number of matches played at Real (529).
But since the Portuguese left for Juventus in Turin in 2018, Benzema has turned into a decisive center-forward and Madrid’s top scorer, and one of Zinédine Zidane’s strongmen.
Despite a hamstring injury in his left leg that kept him off the pitch for a month between early November and early December, Benzema has 10 goals and 3 assists in 16 games in all competitions.
Tuesday again, in the advanced match of the 19e La Liga day, “KB9” signed a brace for the head (75e) then with the right foot (90e+2) to offer the victory (3-1) against Athletic Bilbao and the provisional first place in Liga tied at the “Merengues”, tied on points (26) with Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad.
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