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Real Madrid icon Karim Benzema has spoken out about the absence of collective play at the Bernabéu, which has put the club in serious danger of ending the season empty-handed.
For most clubs that wouldn't be a disaster, but at arguably the world's greatest club, falling short is simply unacceptable. Xabi Alonso learned this the hard way earlier in the campaign, being dismissed just six months into a long-term deal, and his replacement, Álvaro Arbeloa, is reportedly under pressure now that Real Madrid have been eliminated from the Champions League and look increasingly unlikely to reclaim the La Liga title from rivals Barcelona.
Arbeloa has taken the brunt of the blame for Real Madrid's recent struggles, but significant scrutiny has also fallen on Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior's compatibility as a duo—largely due to both players showing little desire to track back and contribute defensively.
Inflated egos and excessive player influence have once again become major talking points during this barren run, though such criticism is nothing new at Real Madrid. Benzema himself knows what it's like to operate in a squad packed with world-class attacking talent—he spent a significant portion of his career at the Spanish capital playing second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benzema Identifies Missing Ingredient
The last piece of silverware Real Madrid claimed was the 2024 Champions League—a trophy Benzema became very accustomed to lifting during his time at the club. Paris Saint-Germain claimed that honor last year and are once again in the semifinals as they seek to defend their title under Luis Enrique.
During a live stream conversation with French rapper Rohff, Benzema highlighted the key distinction between PSG, who continue to thrive, and the current Real Madrid side, who are struggling to find any semblance of rhythm or consistency.
"At PSG, the great thing is that when the starters play, the team functions well," he said. "But then the coach makes a change in the 60th or 70th minute, and those who come on contribute even more than those who started the game. And, in theory, they're the substitutes.
"Everyone knows what they have to do and what they have to contribute. The starter knows it, and the substitute knows it too. And the one on the bench doesn't get angry.
"At Madrid it's more complicated because they don't play as much as a team. (…) PSG isn't a team of stars, except for Ousmane Dembélé. But they press, defend, attack, run."
Mbappé and Vinicius Jr were both jeered and whistled at during Madrid's unconvincing victory over Alavés on Tuesday evening—despite both finding the net—and the evident lack of cohesion has created a deeply uncomfortable atmosphere at the Bernabéu.
Things Different During Benzema's Time With Ronaldo
Benzema was part of one of world football's most devastating attacking units during his spell at Real Madrid, thriving alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Frenchman ultimately departed in 2023 having netted 354 goals in 648 appearances for the club—placing him second on their all-time scoring list, behind only Ronaldo—though it was only after the Portuguese star's exit in 2018 that Benzema truly emerged as the team's focal point.
He averaged more than 32 goals per season across the five years following the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's departure, claiming his own Ballon d'Or in 2022 after playing a central role in the club's 14th Champions League triumph.
Benzema acknowledged that he "played for" Ronaldo during his time at the club—a remark that carries particular resonance for the current squad, given the questions surrounding how Mbappé fits into the team's structure.
"It was good playing with Cristiano," Benzema said. "I learned a lot from him: the movement in the box, the pressing, the guy was scoring 50 goals a season. Even though I played for him, I still learned a lot."
Madrid have been accused of carrying Mbappé and Vinicius Jr—doing the defensive work they are unwilling to do—yet Ronaldo, despite his tireless running, rarely tracked back fully to support the team's defensive shape either.
Fortunately for Benzema and Ronaldo, they played during an era when Madrid boasted midfield maestros Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić pulling the strings—that level of quality has yet to be adequately replaced as Madrid attempt to rebuild a side capable of dethroning Barcelona domestically.