KARIM BENZEMA HAS complained that his relationship with Jose Mourinho soured after the Portuguese mocked him.
The Manchester United manager spent three years in charge at the Bernabeu from 2010-13, where Benzema has played since making a €35 million move from Lyon in the summer of 2009.
Despite his status as a starter at one of the biggest clubs in the world, that did not make him immune from jibes delivered by the former Porto coach.
Speaking at a press conference in 2011, Mourinho took aim at the Frenchman. “If you don’t have a dog to go hunting but only have a cat, you have to take your cat. You’ll catch less, but you’ll catch something all the same,” he said.
Those words stung Benzema.
We always had a good relationship, but after that, there were expressions and statements that were not necessarily well intended,” the striker told Canal+.
“I had the impression that it made him laugh. Even if he’s someone I respect, after a while, I started to lose it.
I told him what I had to say, it took an hour. ’I'm a football player, you’re my coach, I respect you, respect me as a player’. From that moment on, there was no cat, no dog or whatever…
“I’m shy but if you make fun of me, I’ll be direct. And when you speak your mind, it’s true that things are always better.”
The 29-year-old enjoyed arguably his best spell at Madrid under Mourinho, scoring 78 goals in three seasons under him.
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From 1-23 they were all magnificent yesterday and as expected our bench made a massive difference but I would like to give a special mention to Rory O’ Loughlin coming on after 19 minutes for one of if not the greatest Leinster players, in a position that wouldn’t be his strongest and he played beautifully. Yes he had guidance from Sexton inside him and Gary outside but I thought he played an absolute blinder. Hope he can push on next season and get himself in the mix for the World Cup.
@Ian Verdon: he did have a great game, my general frustration with o’loughlin is that he doesn’t pass, he goes for the glory. Not a chance of him getting to japan if ringrose, bundee, henshaw and farrell stay injury free.
@Danger: Most young players are guilty of going for glory(Larmour at times) but that can be easily altered through coaching and mentoring from senior players. Yes I agree he would be doing well to get in the mix with the players you mentioned ahead of him and the likes of Scannell and Arnold too but if he keeps performing well when called upon you never know he also covers 12,13, and 14 which is a bonus.
Sexton only started 3 times for Leinster all year. Ross Byrne made most starts of all players, scored a load of points and didn’t even make the bench today! There’s your star this year for Leinster this year.
@Declan Gibney: byrne has come on a huge amount this year, he was very good versus Munster.
@Declan Gibney: the star of the season was fardy.
Leo Cullen is the Zinedine Zidane of Rugby
Most complete 10 in irish rugby! I still carter is probably the best ever.
The way Johnny can direct a game and influence it in so many other ways is miles ahead of any other 10 we have right now. He’s a tough cookie but if he had to go out for any period of time through injury we don’t have the same depth as other positions to fill the gap.
Extra levels of maturity this season to go with the great play have made him a better player than ever.
Just hope he can keep this up until Japan.
Carbery needs to start a test in Oz with Murray inside him.
Johnny needs lots of cotton wool!
And people still compare him to R’OG
@Bob Joe: as a 10 there is a debate but as a rugby player Sexton is miles better. It’s like Barrett and Sexton, I think Sexton is the better 10 but Barrett Is a better player
@Bob Joe:
Knob
Just aswell he’s good st rugby. I just saw a video of him singing last night….!
K