KARIM BENZEMA will start from the beginning alongside Kaká &
Cristiano Ronaldo in next Sundays “Clasico” against FC BARCELONA
at “Camp Nou”.
There are a few observations here:
1. The first time that all three star signings play together for a long-time.
This fact has baffled many observers & is one of the many criticisms
hailed upon Coach Pellegrini
2. Veteran Captain & Real Madrid living legend Raúl will begin on the
bench. This is a recent tendency that sees the player’s role change to
a second-level. Many commentators & Club Directives feel that Raúl
halts the progression of the younger players who play upfront.
Added to this, many assert that Raúl displaces Kaká & Benzema from
their natural positions making them less effective
3. Real Madrid finally go to “Camp Nou” with all their fire-power.
These three observations put a hell of lot expectations onto the team
& the players involved. Firstly, it finally gives the reason to those
who have been very critical with Coach Pellegrini & Raúl. Not to see
improvement in the teams performance, efficiency &/or results next
Sunday will give ammunition to those attacked to counter, especially
in the Karim Benzema case.
The young 21 year old striker has not started his career at Real Madrid
as he would have liked & others have expected. The man is going
through a “difficult” adaptive period where Football styles & the
local language & culture are hurdles that need to be jumped &
conquered. His natural shyness, obviously due to lack of knowledge of
Spanish to fully express himself, is also halting & breaking his
adaptation. One cannot but remember another case with a Frenchmen
at Real Madrid who shared similar characteristics, that of Nicolas Anelka
now at Chelsea FC.
There has been an increasing tendency from Benzema to take out his
personal frustration & lack of playing time on field with indirect
criticisms, within his inner circle & with some media , of Coach
Pellegrini & on Raúl. This is dangerous given the opportunity the player
will have this Sunday, here the saying "put your money where your
mouth is"– in this case "your goals where your mouth is" – has never
been so relevant.
The biggest game in Europe, & possibly the World, is the stage
where a Football player can finish a hero & thus have his path cleared
for many years or be a mental condemnation & career suffering time
that has lead many rising star fizzle out in the shadows. This Sunday
against FC Barcelona Karim Benzema has his golden opportunity to
shut mouths, grow in confidence, regain his French team place, be
the promise everyone expected & the hero of Real Madrid, or send
him back to the substitution bench, give Raúl back his place & send
the player into a worrying spiral of “doubts & confidence” that will
be hard to get out leaving little margin for future criticism from his
part. "El Clasico", the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid clash, the place
were dreams turn to reality & stars are born. That’s the good side;
the other is that same place & stage can damage the promising
careers of many & send them into the forgotten. Let’s hope Karim
thanks his chance, proves his talent & worth, let’s wish him luck &
that he realizes the magnitud of the occasion & that he gives his
all.
Remember this opportunity for Royston Drenthe against FC Barcelona
at Camp Nou in 2008 (minute 1.16 on the video), watch:
Apart from Barcelona winning 2-0, it was the moment that changed
another promise like Drenthe, a moment he still hasn’t recovered
from, is still suffering personally & professionally ever since. Let´s
hope Benzema scores if he finds himself in a similiar position!
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