Benzema has fallen down Real Madrid's pecking order
French striker Karim Benzema has been able to prove himself during the first days of Rafa Benitez's tenure, but his role in the team has changed radically. He has hardly shown any signs of life in the four friendly matches he has played in up until now, due to the new tactical system that Real Madrid's manager has tried to use. The Frenchman is no longer the protagonist of Carlo Ancelotti's 4-3-3, where he was undisputedly considered the number nine.
Benzema has noticed that life will be very different under Benitez. The Frenchman at the moment is not in his plans. He doesn't figure in the starting 11 that he has in mind. The Real Madrid coach is thinking of a scenario where Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema are competing for two places, with preference towards the Welshman and the Portuguese forwards. Benzema has it tough.
In a 4-2-3-1, Benzema will remain very isolated in attack. In the first games of the pre-season, he has appeared to be uncomfortable and has gone missing on the field at times. He has barely got into the game and combined with Bale nor Cristiano.
The solitude of the France international contrasts with the affection given by his coach to Bale and Cristiano. At the moment, Benitez is trying to put Bale in attacking midifeld, with Cristiano on the left, but his idea is to deploy the Welshman on the left-hand side and the Portugal international as a false nine, leaving Benzema outside of the starting line-up. He is yet to convince Cristiano, who has made it clear that he prefers to play on the left, despite having full liberty to roam around the attack.
The priority for Benitez is that his team barely gives away any chances. In a 4-2-3-1, all of his players must sacrifice themselves to defend. Cristiano and Bale are the only players who are free from this duty, with Benzema appearing inferior when competing with both of them for a starting place.
The ideal 11 for the new coach also contains Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez out wide on the right, leaving only one position free. In this spot, which had previously been held by Cristiano, players such as Isco, Jese and Benzema will hope to feature.
Benitez understands that Isco, James, Jese and Lucas Vazquez guarantee him more security, as they already know that if they don't work hard defensively then they will not have opportunities to play.
At the moment, playing Bale behind the striker is not working too well. The Welshman is always enthusiastic, but is barely offering anything. Jese taking Benzema's place cannot be ruled out if Cristiano accepts playing through the middle. Benitez only has three friendlies remaining in order to continue seeking to resolve any problems before the start of the season, which begins on the 23rd of August against Sporting.
