Mourinho tips Benzema for big season

Posted Thursday, July 28, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has tipped striker Karim Benzema to enjoy a successful season after the Frenchman scored twice in Wednesday's 3-1 friendly win away to Hertha Berlin.

"Karim now thinks about football in the same way that I do," Mourinho told sports daily Marca on Thursday.

"He has everything required to have a great campaign. He looks much better than he did this time last year. I think I have managed to convince him that my way is the best way."

Patrick Ebert gave the Bundesliga side the lead at the Olympic Stadium, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to equalise.

Benzema, who started the game, then struck in the 33rd and 47th minutes to seal the win for the Spanish giants and take his pre-season goals tally to three in four outings.

"I have worked really hard this summer and feel all the better for it," he said after enjoying an 82-minute run-out.

Benzema is entering his third season at the Bernabeu, and while he has so far scored 23 goals in 60 appearances in La Liga, many are still to be convinced that the France star deserves to lead the Madrid line ahead of his Argentine teammate Gonzalo Higuain.

Having already toured the US this summer, Mourinho's men are now en route for England, where they will play Leicester City, before undertaking another tour, this time in China.

The season proper begins when they meet Barcelona in the first-leg of the Spanish Supercup on August 14.