Madrid (DPA/Stats Perform)
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said that French striker Karim Benzema will be absent from the team in the next two matches, but he may return to the team in the derby match once morest Atletico Madrid.
Benzema injured his knee during the match that Real Madrid won 3-0 once morest Celtic, in its opening match in the group stage of the Champions League last Tuesday, and there were fears of his absence for a long time due to injury.
But Ancelotti dispelled these fears at a press conference on Saturday before Real Madrid face Mallorca on Sunday, saying that the French international striker may return in a week.
After Mallorca, Real will host the German Leipzig team in the Champions League, before facing Atletico Madrid next Sunday.
Ancelotti said: “We will not force Benzema to play. Of course he will not play once morest Leipzig, but we will discuss his position on playing in the derby.”
He added, “If he is not able to play once morest Atletico, then he will not join the French national team during the international matches.”
Benzema was replaced 30 minutes into the Celtic match and was replaced by Eden Hazard, who scored the team’s third goal, and it is likely that the Belgian player will be pushed into the outright attacking position once morest Mallorca.
Ancelotti does not want Hazard to play like Benzema, but said: “Hazard played a good game when he played once morest Celtic. I will put him in the same position on Sunday. I hope he can do the same.”
And he added: “I do not expect Hazard to play like Benzema, but I want him to play well and to have cooperation and harmony between him and the other attackers.”
Ancelotti explained that there is no alternative to Benzema, as the alternative options offer different strong solutions in the attacking third, and he praised Vinicius Junior, who scored in the last four matches he participated in with Real.
He said, “Karim will not be available with us, but because he is the best striker in the world, there is no alternative to him in the transfer market.”
“But he can be replaced by other players who have different characteristics,” he added.
He stressed, “Vinicius has become more consistent in ending the attack and in scoring goals. Mostly he does not waste chances in front of the goal, he has improved a lot.”
