Benzema's moment of genius proved: "The golden ball is already registered in his name"
The Real star's surprising pancake stunned Pep and surprised Ancelotti as well.
Now he explains: it was an improvisation of a moment.
The numbers illustrate how extraordinary his season is, and now even in England reveal: "This is one of Ferguson's biggest regrets, to date"
Walla!
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27/04/2022
Wednesday, 27 April 2022, 07:26
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Pep Guardiola responds to Karim Benzema's pananka (from Twitter)
With 41 goals in 41 appearances alongside 13 assists this season, with countless important goals at critical moments, Karim Benzema continues to prove he is the almost obvious candidate to win the Golden Ball.
Last night (Tuesday) the French striker scored a double in Real Madrid's 4-3 win over Manchester City in the first game of the Champions League semi-final, and showed once again that this is simply his season.
Benzema is the first player in the history of the Champions League to score five away goals in the knockout stage of the Champions League in one season.
In addition, he is the first player to score at least 40 goals in one season at Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo did so in the 2017/18 season (44).
But beyond the ability and numbers, it's mostly the character, which was expressed yesterday mostly in one moment of genius - with the Pananka kicking from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.
Benzema missed three of his last four penalties before that kick, and in the previous league game against Osasuna missed twice from the penalty spot.
That did not stop him from approaching the crucial kick against Ederson with complete confidence, and bouncing to the center of the goal in art.
Pep Guardiola has been documented as looking completely stunned after Benzema's kick, grabbing his head in disbelief.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti also admitted he was surprised by the kick.
"I did not know where he was going to kick and how he was going to kick, but he did it. It shows that he has a very strong character and iron nerves. You have to be special to kick like that in a class like this," he said.
More on Walla!
The football world rejoices: "Games like this are all the Champions League needs"
To the full article
This is what it looks like from the stands
That's how Pep reacted to the surprising Pananka
Unstoppable.
Benzema (Photo: GettyImages, Joe Prior / Visionhaus)
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The Spanish media, of course, rejoiced at Benzema's penalty and noted that "this is further proof that the golden ball is already registered in his name."
Benzema himself said at the end that he did not plan to kick Pananka, and made the decision with momentary improvisation.
"I always tell myself that whoever doesn't kick penalties, also misses them. I have the confidence to keep kicking as much as I should, I strongly believe in myself. Even after I missed my last two penalties, I knew it happened because I was stopped by a good goalkeeper. I realized that the goalkeepers are learning my penalties, they are preparing for me, so I had to change something. "
According to Benzema, "I do not think about the Golden Ball, but I only want to win the Champions League and the Spanish Championship. The team titles are much more important to me."
Mesut Ozil calls for Benzema to be awarded the Golden Ball
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By the way, Rio Ferdinand revealed last night that Alex Ferguson tried to sign Benzema at Manchester United when the French striker left Lyon, before signing for Real Madrid.
In Ferdinand's words, "Fergie told me, 'I'm trying to bring in Benzema, but he seems to be choosing Real Madrid. I think in retrospect, that's one of the biggest regrets in Sir Alex's career."
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Real Madrid
Karim Benzema