JAKARTA - Two consecutive defeats have made Real Madrid suffer a setback under coach Xabi Alonso. However, former Madrid striker Karim Benzema revealed that it was not Alonso's fault but the ego of the players who made the team lose its unity.
Benzema stated emphatically that Alonso could not be blamed for Madrid's downfall. Previously, Madrid suffered a 2-0 defeat against Celta Vigo in the Spanish LaLiga which made the team fail to chase Barcelona's standings and then was humiliated by Manchester City 2-1 in the Champions League. Ironically, the two defeats occurred at home at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Even the defeat against Man City made the disappointed fans sue at the end of the match. The suit has become a tradition for Madrid fans when they are disappointed with their favorite team.
Benzema assessed the team's performance, which had declined because there was no connection between the players. They played individually and did not build as a team.
Benzema highlighted Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo who put ego ahead of the team.
"The simple thing that is lacking is the connection between Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham and Rodrygo. Players should already know what to do on the field," Benzema said as quoted by Marca.
"Bellingham has to realize he's a playmaker, not a goal scorer. Mbappe is an executor and not an attacking midfielder. Vinicius is not a defensive midfielder but a winger. The important thing is that the players know what they should do," he said again.
"The reason is that we are talking about the 10 best players in the world and they are in one team," said the 37-year-old striker who now plays at Al Ittihad.
There is no ego and above all is the cohesion and cooperation because Madrid in its history has the best players in every position.
In fact, Los Merengues once had a galacticos squad that included star players like Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Luis Figo as well as Michael Owen.
Likewise, in the era of Benzema, many top players have come and gone. There is Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Gareth Bale and then Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
"It's not easy because every player has their own personality and character. Everyone wants to be the best. This is obviously complicated," said Benzema.
The solution, as the former French national team striker said, "Players must understand each other and know what their role is on the field. They can contribute, but it's all for the team."
Benzema, further, said that if Alonso could not bring the team to rise. The player who can do it. According to him, players must eliminate ego and realize that their colleagues are indeed better than him.
"The coach can't do anything. Obviously, he does have a big name. He is one of the best. But the problem is the player himself... If your teammates do play better, you have to accept it. The problem is the attitude of not accepting when one of the players playing in front of you scores more goals," said Benzema.
English:
"That's why you have big problems when you have five to six big players playing together. Everyone wants to take a role," he said.
"But in the end the player who scored the goal got more attention than the others. But he still needs other players. You can't do it alone," Benzema said.
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