Real Madrid is the most pressurized club in the world. No other club carries a weight of expectations each year like Los Blancos, given that they aim to compete for trophies every single season. So you can imagine, then, how difficult it is to play for Real.
But not every position carries equal weight in terms of difficulty and schematic importance. The center backs at Real Madrid have less help than other clubs and must be better on the ball than most center backs in the world. A goalkeeper at Real Madrid? You can only imagine the mental pressure they are under. And a striker expected to score in just about every game? The same goes for that player.
There is no “easy position” at Real Madrid. Some, though, have more expectations and pressure attached to them. But right now, in 2020-2021, which position is the most difficult to play?
For me, I have to go with the striker position, played by Karim Benzema. And I hope my discussion of Benzema’s situation makes you appreciate what he brings to the table even more.
Karim Benzema plays Real Madrid’s toughest position
Firstly, let’s acknowledge the difficulties of the positions I feel are the runner-ups – center back, defensive midfielder, and goalkeeper. Casemiro has to cover so much ground and do a LOT of covering and even running into the penalty area for this team. Thibaut Courtois has to be near-perfect, because every mistake is magnified by a Real Madrid keeper. The same goes for center backs, who are on the ball frequently and must be unshakeable in possession.
More from The Real Champs
- Manchester City hold talks over Real Madrid target
- Real Madrid player confirms he is playing with a fracture
- Real Madrid superstar rejected Premier League clubs confirmed
- Spaniard ready to join Real Madrid instead of Liverpool
- PSG want €100 million Real Madrid player to replace Kylian Mbappe
But the striker, as of right now, is the key for Real Madrid. Benzema, in many ways, is on an island. He works with a great midfield, as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric can provide the control and passing quality to support Benzema as a No. 9.
Yet the other forwards have been inconsistent, both in terms of helping Benzema with goal-scoring and in supporting him as playmakers. Benzema must help lead the way in chance creation and scoring. Last season, he led Real Madrid in both categories. This season, the French striker has more than three times more goals than the man in second, as well as the second-most assists behind Kroos.
A No. 9 at Real Madrid has to be more than a No. 9. He must be capable of scoring 20 goals in a season, but he also must be capable of beating defenders off the dribble, making the right passes, and supporting the midfield in both chance-creation and ball recoveries.
“Tactical intelligence” does not even begin to describe the qualities a No. 9 at Madrid must have off the ball. They must be intuitive at finding space, at pressing, and at working with the other forwards.
That Benzema does all these things at such a high level should be a clear signal of his quality. Managers and players who truly study the game understand what Benzema brings to the table for Real Madrid is almost impossible to match. And he has done it for so long, so consistently under unfathomable pressure to perform.
To me, playing striker at Real Madrid is a great honor for all the names who have been here, such as Ronaldo and Raul. But it is also a tremendous responsibility – one that Benzema makes look far easier than it actually is.