Mourinho demands more ambition from Benzema

Benzema has failed to cement a first-team place (EPA)

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho believes striker Karim Benzema must show more ambition if he is to become a genuine world-class talent.

The Frenchman has failed to cement a place in the first team since he moved to Santiago Bernabeu from Lyon in July last year.

But, after discussions with France national team coach Laurent Blanc, Mourinho wants to see more from him.

“I am talking a lot about Karim with Laurent. We both believe he has huge qualities," he said. “But maybe he needs to play with more ambition.”

Blanc also admits that he needs to show more and he added: “I believe for some players it is a surprise when they realise their natural qualities are not enough and they have to work tactically and collectively.

“I hope Karim understands that what Jose and I say about him is to help him realise just quite how much potential he really has to do much more than he has done so far.”