"All for Zidane". Like the Musketeers, the four French players playing at Real Madrid were able to form a body around their coach Zinédine Zidane to win this Friday a 34th title of champion of Spain at the end of a new season stopped because of the epidemic from Covid-19.
The elders of the White House - the nickname of Real - Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema welcomed in their rank, two little new Ferland Mendy and Alphonse Areola. Portrait of this tricolor bodyguard.
The essential: Karim Benzema
French was a great artisan of the title. With 21 goals scored this season (and 6 assists), the Merengues striker is the current second top scorer in the Spanish championship, just two units behind Lionel Messi. With one last day of La Liga to go, KB9, its nickname on social networks, can hope to catch up with or even exceed the Barcelonan.
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Hard work always pays off at the end ... Winning is so good ☄️
A post shared by Karim Benzema (@karimbenzema) on Jul 17, 2020 at 12:57 am PDT
The former Lyonnais added a new trophy to his impressive record with Real Madrid (19 titles won). Since the departure of the Spanish capital of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, Karim Benzema has naturally become the attack leader of the White House. At 32, the native of Bron in the Lyon region is at the peak of his career and benefits from the total confidence of his trainer with whom he maintains a privileged relationship.
The indisputable: Raphaël Varane
Real have the best defense in Liga (23 goals conceded) and this is not a surprise. Associated with Sergio Ramos in the defensive hinge of the Merengues, Raphaël Varane had a full season. At ease in the air as on the ground, the 2018 world champion has again shown that his presence in the eleven of Zinedine Zidane was indisputable. Tiptoeed from Lens in 2011, he managed to make a name for himself in the best club in the world with the same caliber as his Spanish teammate. Zidane had also described their association as "the best doublet of exchanges that Real Madrid had".
The new kid: Ferland Mendy
At the end of his first season, Ferland Mendy conquered the people of Madrid. Claimed last summer by Zinedine Zidane, recruited for 48 million euros, the former Lyonnais plays in the position of left back, competing with the Brazilian Marcelo, a reference to his position. From November, the French, now 26 years old, wins playing time. In parallel, the Brazilian, at the club since 2007, has to contend with a persistent adductor injury. The native of Meulan (Yvelines) has plenty of time to express himself in his left lane, and his attacking contribution is materialized by a splendid goal against Granada (1-2). Signed for six years, the side is on track to establish itself in the years to come as a basic element of Madrid's defense.
Intermittent: Alphonse Areola
Of the French quartet, the goalkeeper is the one who lived the most contrasting season. It first presents the lowest playing time of the tricolors. Alphonse Areola, on loan from PSG, has played eight games with the Merengues, all competitions combined. In November, the doorman took advantage of the holder's difficult game series, Thibaut Courtois, to take advantage of the playing time.
He notably made a remarkable and decisive replacement at halftime against Bruges (2-2), while Real were led 2-0. But the world champion goalkeeper, and his 270 minutes played in La Liga, quickly regains his role as understudy. The blame for a blunder against Grenada in October. An avoidable error which allows to revive Courtois. His lack of playing time worries the French team, and the future of the French international, under contract with PSG until 2023, appears very uncertain in Spain.
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