Jose Mourinho pleased with Karim Benzema's recent form
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has said striker Karim Benzema is worthy of his place in the team and called on the Frenchman to score in Real's return leg against Real Murcia in the Copa del Rey.
Benzema transferred to Real from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2009, rated as one of the team's major signings that summer alongside praised midfielders Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.
But the striker, who scored eight goals in 28 league appearances during his first season at the club, has failed to earn a regular starting place in the Spanish capital.
Instead, Argentine Gonzalo Higuain has been preferred, both by former boss Manuel Pellegrini and by Mourinho, who arrived at the club this summer.
Speculation in the press held that Benzema's goalless appearance in the first leg against Murcia was his last chance to impress Mourinho.
But since that fixture, the 22-year-old has hit three assists in as many substitute appearances — including vital through ball for Pedro Leon to pull Real level against AC Milan in the Champions League — and Mourinho has been pleased with the striker's contributions.
"He is playing very well at the moment," the manager told reporters ahead of Real's game against Murcia on Wednesday, 10 November. "[Benzema] has a lot of class and does what we expect of him. He will start the game and we need him to score. It is a decisive
match and I am waiting for a positive response from him as in the last few matches. If he works to that end he will end up in the starting line-up."
Mourinho's team go into the game against Murcia on the back of a 2–0 victory against Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
In Wednesday's fixture, Real will be looking to avoid a second consecutive fourth-round exit in the Spanish cup. Last year, the team suffered a 4–0 defeat to Alcorcon.
Tags: