Real Madrid coach Ancelotti compares Benzema to a good wine.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has compared his striker Karim Benzema to a fine wine that improves with age after the 34-year-old scored a hat-trick against Chelsea on Wednesday, giving the Spanish control of the Champions League quarterfinals.
“It gets better and better, like wine,” Ancelotti told reporters when asked about Benzema’s performance against the reigning European champions.
“He is a player who is showing more and more leadership, and he is more and more important for this team,” the Italian said.
Benzema hit Chelsea with two fine-headed goals in the 21st and 24th minutes before capitalizing on a goalkeeper Edouard Mendy error to claim his hat-trick early in the second half.
“He is really complete, not only as a striker but as a player. Benzema scores a lot of goals and that is very important, but he also helps the team a lot in possession,” Ancelotti said. “We are very happy and lucky to have him.”
The Italian, who led Chelsea to a league and cup double in 2009/10 as manager at Stamford Bridge, said his side’s performance on Wednesday had been “surprising” but stressed the tie was far from over.
“I still think it will be difficult for us in the next game against them. This is what we are focused on,” he said.
