The charisma of Benzema, the captain who plays like nobody else: "Now he puts his heart into everything he does"

• Chronicle Real Madrid conquers its 35th League title

• The 5th conquest of Ancelotti Davide and a familiar bench, changes since 2013 and "an illusion"

"Perhaps before he played just for fun, but now, when he sees the end of his career closer, when he knows that he may not have many more good years left, he has decided to put his heart into everything he does. In addition, the The captain's armband has given him responsibility. It has meant one more step in his decision to play for the team and not just for himself".

The hegemony of Karim Benzema in LaLiga fits into this analysis by

, the coach who directed him the most times at Olympique de Lyon.

14 years have passed since the common stage of both in Gerland and Perrin remembers today for EL MUNDO not only the keys to what happened then, but its repercussions on the current Benzema.

"Until recently there were those who could think that he did not make an effort. What happens is that his game science already allowed him to participate in an absolutely fluid way. Today he has reached his maximum level, with some very intelligent movements, very useful to occupy the right spaces," says the former China coach.

"He may have had wonderful technique at 20, although at that age he may not have been pushing himself at the right time and in the right place," he adds.

was also a witness to that training period

, who enjoyed his last season before

closed the transfer with

.

"When he lands at the Bernabéu he finds that everyone, including him, had to play for

. The first five or six months were quite hard for him, although he already knew how to adapt during

's period . After the departure of the Portuguese, Karim has achieved fantastic maturity and leadership.

reveals Puel, in conversation with this newspaper.

Quadrupling the numbers

"During the last league and Champions League games he has assumed all the responsibility. And that is what has amazed me the most, seeing him encouraging his teammates and taking the lead as captain. It is magnificent to enjoy not only his quality, but also that charisma that has completed his maturity as a footballer", emphasizes the former Leicester coach, without overlooking another of the factors that have raised Karim to the top.

"His physical condition, at 34 years old, is incredible. Five or six seasons ago I saw him a bit slow, without the necessary reactivity, but these last two, when the team's benchmark is known, he is much better and can provide solutions by keeping stop the effort", he completes.

Puel's reference is worth remembering that in the 2018 season, Cristiano's last at the Bernabéu, Benzema's balance dropped to 12 goals in 47 games.

Today, that figure has almost quadrupled, with 41 goals in 42 commitments.

And after securing his first Pichichi trophy, he still has four games to beat

's last record (30 goals).

"And that is not only a center forward in the strict sense," says Perrin.

"For most fans or experts, a

should score, but Karim works for others and is not only there for goals, but to make others achieve them. That was already evident during his time with Cristiano. It's not just a

, for example.

He does not stay on the surface", points out the French coach.

At this level, with a League title and a deafening run through the Champions League qualifiers, Benzema is emerging as the natural favorite for the Ballon d'Or. After his fourth place in 2021, only

, still a contender for the title clover with the Liverpool seems in a position to unseat him.

And that award would be the definitive endorsement for his figure.

That of an artist with a very particular idiosyncrasy, as he recorded after his last

in London.

"I don't play to be the best in the world, but for nights like this."

Asked if there is some kind of arrogance behind this statement, Perrin is blunt: "He is in love with football and as such he intends to share it. He is not a selfish guy and that is why he is not only attracted by statistics or individual recognition".

"Very humble on his return"

And if there is no challenge at the Bernabéu on a par with the Fourteenth, what about the World Cup in Qatar, the event where France defends the 2018 title. "After five years of absence, the return to the national team, hand in hand with

, has been very, very important for his confidence," argues Puel.

"He forms a fantastic couple with

, among other reasons because they are totally complementary. Karim loves to participate, offer himself between the lines, while Kylian looks for the diagonals and the accelerations towards the goal", explains the former Monaco footballer (1978-1996 ).

"With the national team he had had problems and his absence coincided with the explosion of the team. There were leaders like

or

in there, but he came to the group with a lot of humility, without trying to impose himself and that was very intelligent on his part" adds Perrin.

"I am very excited about what can happen in Qatar, where I think Karim is going to take a stronger lead in that locker room," he concludes.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

Know more

• soccer

• real Madrid

• RCD Espanyol

• Articles Miguel A. Herguedas