Bayern Munich legend Stefan Effenberg is struggling to understand those criticising Real Madrid‘s French forward Karim Benzema.
Benzema is currently enduring his least productive goalscoring season with Los Blancos, having scored just nine times in all competitions this campaign, but according to Effenberg, the reason why is obvious.
“He plays with Cristiano and does not stop working for him.
“Criticising him for a lack of goals when he has Cristiano next to him does not seem very logical to me.”
Effenberg also believes comparisons can be drawn between the way Benzema works alongside Ronaldo and the way Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller works alongside Robert Lewandowski, adding: “Look at Muller. Before, he scored 20 per season, now he gets less.
“The reason? Because he works for Lewandowski, who scores more thanks to Muller.”
Karim Benzema has scored 189 times across nine campaigns for Madrid, but his manager Zindine Zidane has admitted that the forward has lacked confidence at times this season.
Benzema could play a pivotal role in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern, with Real looking strong in all departments as they chase down a third successive Champions League crown.
They have a team full of stars in every area, with Effenberg conceding that they have the strongest spine – with captain Sergio Ramos the stand out player in a strong backline.
“I would not have liked to face him,” Effenberg said of the Real skipper.
“I do not lie when I say that Madrid would not have won so many titles without Ramos.
“The same goes for Toni Kroos. His signing for Madrid helped him to give the final pass to the world elite.
“Ramos, Kroos and Cristiano form a backbone that, if performing at 100 per cent, will require Bayern to get the most out of themselves.”
The two sides face Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash at the Allianz Arena.
