MY ACCOUNT
Karim Benzema was served a rich compliment when Carlo Ancelotti said the Real Madrid striker reminds him of the great Marco van Basten.
Madrid head coach Ancelotti told a news conference he also expects Benzema to remain a talisman for the LaLiga giants, even if the club bring in Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland before next season.
French striker Benzema has 10 goals in his last four games, boosting his total to 37 in 36 appearances during a remarkable campaign for the 34-year-old club captain.
It will not have escaped Benzema’s attention that Madrid are engaged in long-term planning, with his France team-mate Mbappe thought to be their prime target.
Paris Saint-Germain frontman Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund’s Haaland are the two hottest young properties in the European game, and it might not be beyond the realm of possibility that both end up in Madrid.
Asked how that might change Benzema’s position in the pecking order, Ancelotti cast doubt on whether it should make any immediate difference.
“Considering Karim’s age, and considering the fact over the past years he’s been getting better and better, I don’t think this situation will change,” Ancelotti said. “I know he will continue to do well, and he’s one of the most important players of this club. We will see what happens, but I’m sure nothing will change for him.”
Ancelotti, whose Madrid side face Getafe on Saturday evening, was asked how Benzema compared to players he has coached in the past, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba.
This spurred the veteran Italian to mention Van Basten, his former Milan team-mate and a Dutch legend whose career was cruelly cut short by injury.
“It’s really difficult to make these comparisons because we’re talking about different eras and different people,” Ancelotti responded.
“I think comparing him to Van Basten is actually a good comparison. I think they would both appreciate that comparison, Marco and Karim.”
It remains to be seen whether Ancelotti remains at the helm with Madrid next season.
His team are close to securing the LaLiga title, holding a 12-point lead over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and a 3-1 win at Chelsea on Wednesday gave them a handsome first-leg lead in their Champions League quarter-final.
Benzema’s hat-trick at Stamford Bridge should mean Tuesday’s second leg is one that Madrid can safely negotiate.
Yet doubts exist and rumours circulate about whether Madrid are planning to stick with Ancelotti, who arrived ahead of this season after a stint with Everton.
Asked about his prospects, Ancelotti said: “I enjoy what I do every day. I love the atmosphere we have in the team and I’m 100 per cent focused on my work.
“When the season is over, we will evaluate everything, and we will make decisions.”
He refused to give himself a mark out of 10 for his performance so far.
“I’m not giving myself any marks,” he said. “I have to give it my all, and we have to wait until the end of the season to see if we are lucky enough and have enough quality to win titles, and then we will draw conclusions.”
