Carlo Ancelotti has said that Karim Benzema has emerged to be a key component of the current Real Madrid side, and vital for the team as they look to lift three trophies this season.
Benzema has formed a devastating understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale this year, with the trio terrorising defences across La Liga and Europe. Los Blancos top the table by three points, while the face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final next month. On the quest for European glory, they are all but into the quarter finals having beaten Schalke 6-1 in the first leg of their tie.
Speaking in an interview on RMC radio, Ancelotti said Benzema is vital to the way the team is set up.
“For us, Karim is not only important because he scores goals. He is important because he helps the team in possession,” said Ancelotti. He added: “I love the position and the characteristics of the player. He is not just a scorer, he is a complete player.”
The Italian boss also compared the 26-year-old to one of his former charges at PSG – Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And he said Benzema still has plenty of areas for improvement in his game – a scary thought for defenders.
Ancelotti said: “He is not very different from Zlatan, who is also a team player. The combination of Bale-Ronaldo-Benzema is complementary. I think we can still improve him, especially in his character, and show more personality. He is a very quiet and shy boy. This is where he can improve.”
