Benzema: 'Every Player at PSG Knows Their Role, Real Madrid's Situation is Complicated Due to Lack of Team Spirit'

T.E (Elbotola)

25 April 2026at11:40

French striker Karim Benzema, who plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal, praised Paris Saint-Germain during a live broadcast on his Instagram account. He drew a comparison between the Parisian club and Real Madrid, suggesting that forming a cohesive team at Real Madrid faces "greater complexity" due to the abundance of stars within the squad.

Analyzing Real Madrid's current situation, Benzema stated: "Every player must do exactly what is required of him. The scorer is the scorer, the passer is the passer, the defender is the defender, the winger is the winger, and each needs the other a little. If you look at things on paper, you'll find them an unbeatable team."

He continued by citing Paris Saint-Germain as an example, calling them "one of the best teams in the world today." Benzema highlighted that PSG's strength lies not just in individual names but in their complete team structure. "The beautiful thing about Paris is that when the coach makes substitutions in the 60th or 70th minute, the players who come on add more than those who started the match, even though they are substitutes. This means every player knows what they must do and what they must offer; the starter knows their role, and the substitute knows the coach will use them and they will make an impact."

Benzema further explained: "Real Madrid's situation is complicated because the team doesn't play with enough collective spirit. In reality, there isn't enough communication between them for one to tell the other, 'Your job is this, and my job is that, but I need you to shine, because without you, I won't be able to shine.'"

Addressing the role of the coach, he added: "Is the problem with the coach? You can put any coach you want. Did you see Paris Saint-Germain three years ago? They had Messi, Mbappé, Neymar, Verratti, Di María, but there was too much 'ego.' Now, they don't have stars except Dembélé, who won the Golden Ball. But look at them, they are sweeping everyone, defending and attacking. Paris Saint-Germain is a collective team."

Q&A

What did Karim Benzema say about Real Madrid's team spirit?

Karim Benzema stated that Real Madrid's situation is complicated due to a lack of collective spirit among its star players. He highlighted insufficient communication and a failure to define individual roles, leading to a less cohesive unit on the field.

How does Karim Benzema compare PSG's team structure to Real Madrid's?

Karim Benzema praised PSG's current team structure, noting that every player knows their role and substitutes make a significant impact. He contrasted this with Real Madrid, where an abundance of stars makes forming a cohesive team more complex.

Why does Karim Benzema believe team spirit is crucial for top clubs?

Karim Benzema believes team spirit is crucial because it allows players to understand and fulfill their specific roles, creating a powerful collective. He cited PSG's transformation from an ego-driven team to a cohesive unit as proof of this philosophy's success.