Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is looking forward to los Blancos' Champions League clash with Auxerre in France tonight.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is looking forward to los Blancos' Champions League clash with Auxerre in France tonight.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has already said that Benzema will start against the French side and the former Olympique Lyonnais hitman is relishing the opportunity. Benzema, who joined Real last season from Olympique Lyon, has started only one out of five games since Mourinho took over during the close season.
"The coach decides," said Benzema, according to Madrid's official website. "I feel fit and I am very excited about playing this game, which is very important to us.
Mourinho had recently hit out at Benzema citing a lack of motivation. However, yesterday he announced: "He (Benzema) has been playing the way I want him to play, so he should play tomorrow."
"I've never lost a match here in Auxerre before, so I only have good memories," said Benzema said speaking of the time he represented French club Lyon.
"Auxerre are in this championship because they are a good team. This is only the start to the season, so it's natural for us to lack some things. But we are working hard and hope to give a great performance against Auxerre. Mourinho is helping me to make progress. He is especially helping me in regards to my mentality. I'm sure I will improve considerably with him."
Meanwhile, Auxerre are not too confident of taking on the Blues given their own defensive worries.
Skipper Benoit Pedretti is in fact worried his team may be thrashed by the nine-time Champions League winners.
On Saturday, they threw away a two-goal lead against Nancy ending up with a 2-2 following a host of problems in defence. Pedretti said: "If we make those kind of mistakes against Real Madrid, it's not two goals we'll be conceding, but five or six," Pedretti said.
