Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema - interviewed by the French magazine France Football - discussed how things have changed for him since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Los Blancos: "Before, there was a player who scored more than fifty goals per season and I did all the work 'behind the scenes'. I used to play for Cristiano, we were a good duo. I always tried to help him score even more goals. Now I am the leader of the attack, I have to be the difference maker now. I am very happy, I can play my real football".
Benzema was also asked about his interpretation of the striker role, that, according to him, is not only about scoring: "You have to consider football as a whole. To me, being a striker does not meany only to score goals. Football is becoming only a matter of stats, but there are strikers who work the space for the teammates, that play for the team, that assist other players or that tire the opponent out", concluded Benzema.
