Zizou: Benzema will come good

Zinedine Zidane has leapt to the defence of compatriot Karim Benzema following staunch criticism of the Real Madrid striker this season. Benzema helped Los Blancos claim an unprecedented 10th European crown last term, scoring five goals in their successful UEFA Champions League campaign. However, the France international has found the back of the net just once in eight competitive appearances for both club and country in the new season, leading to questions over whether he should command a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's side. But Zidane believes his countryman will soon be firing on all cylinders and dismissed suggestions that Benzema's form has suffered since he stepped away from his role as Ancelotti's assistant in the off-season to take over the reins of Real Madrid Castilla, the club's B team. Zidane told RMC: "He's Real Madrid's No. 1 forward and he hasn't scored lately. The critics will be there as long as it lasts - he has to score goals, for Madrid and France. "He's aware of all of that. He knows who he is, the player he is and what's expected of him. "I was close to him last year, and I'm a little less so now because I'm very busy, but it's not because of that that he's not so good. In the next game, he'll score and we'll move on to something else."