Karim Benzema has admitted that he has changed his style of play since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid four years ago.
The Frenchman spent nine years playing alongside Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu, before the latter joined Juventus in a £100million deal. Since the Portugal captain's exit, Benzema has become the leading attacking force at Los Blancos.
He finished as top scorer of both La Liga and the Champions League last season to help Madrid win both competitions. The La Liga title was the second time that Real have won the Spanish top-flight since Ronaldo's exit, with Benzema scoring 27 goals to see them be crowned champions.
And the 34-year-old has now revealed that he believes his push for winning golden boots has been boosted by the exit of Ronaldo. While he praised the Manchester United star, Benzema also admitted that he has benefitted from his exit from the Spanish capital.
“It’s been different for me since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid. It’s true that I’ve scored many more goals, but when Cristiano was here, we had a different style of play, I was providing more assists," Benzema said.
"He really helped me on and off the pitch. But at that time, I did know that I could do more and when he left, it was the time to change my game, change my ambitions and I am doing that well at the moment.”
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Madrid face Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night, with Benzema expected to play some role. The Frenchman is now club captain after Marcelo departed the Bernabeu at the end of last season, with Benzema keen to equal the Brazilian's trophy haul for Madrid.
"The road was very difficult and very good. It's a dream to be here. We're ready. We're going to give everything for it. I hope that, as the coach says, the squad will be better," Benzema added.
"It's not in my head about Marcelo's 25, but winning every competition with my team. The challenge is never personal, it's always helping my team to win. My challenge is to give my best every year in my team, always help.
"There is no age, the body is there. We work hard on the pitch and off it. We have a good squad. There are many people who can play as a striker. It's a pride [to be captain], for my work since I was little. But nothing has changed, my way of understanding what I have to do is the same."
Carlo Ancelotti has only added Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger to his squad so far this summer. That means that Benzema will again be their first-choice striker, as he looks to cement his place as the world's best forward, placing him high in the running to win the Ballon d'Or.
