Karim Benzema lauds 2021/22 season as 'the best of my career'
Karim Benzema has revealed the 2021/22 season was the best of his career as he was crowned Men's Player of the Year by UEFA on Thursday night.
The France international has enjoyed some sparkling recent years at the Bernabeu and is the favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or after helping Real to a La Liga and Champions League double.
He spoke to the media after scooping the award, covering a wide array of topics.
Real Madrid's Champions League win
Was this the best title of your career?
"Although each title has its history and is different, it is clear that this Champions League was the most difficult of the five I have won, and for me, it was also the most beautiful because of the comebacks and because we never gave up."
Benzema's style & ambitions
Was this the best season of your career?
"Now at 34 I'm better, I play better. It's true that on a personal level this was the best season of my career, but one thing hasn't changed: I go onto the pitch thinking about what I have to do to win the game, I think about the team, not about me."
How have you changed since Ronaldo left?
"Cristiano helped me a lot, with him I had another role and when he left I knew that I could take a step forward in scoring goals, but still playing football. What has changed since then is my number of goals, but I continue to play as I think that we have to play this game.
"The figures mean that I am not far from the legends of Real Madrid, and that gives me confidence, although I know that reaching Cristiano's goals is impossible. That is why I focus on what I can do in the field to help the team win. Figures are not the most important thing. I don't play thinking only of titles or goals, I play because I love football, although I have dreams, of course, like winning the World Cup or a Ballon d'Or."
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Carlo Ancelotti
"He is one of the best coaches in the world that I have had. I remember Mourinho and 'Zizou', who have done monumental things in Madrid...but Ancelotti left, he returned as the last coach of the market and we won the Super Cup, the league and the Champions League. He is someone who in the breaks of the matches gives us confidence that later we get on the field with the desire to come back, that only he does."