Karanka: “Benzema has taken the lead after Cristiano left”

Aitor Karanka He was second coach at Real Madrid during the stage of the Portuguese José Mourinho (2010-2013), where he met closely the Frenchman Karim Benzema, fashionable name after his heel against Espanyol and of which he assures that, after Cristiano's departure, “he took the lead.” “What we are seeing about Karim is him, and not just the heel. He has taken the lead after Christian left. Sergio is the team leader, but that leadership in terms of goals and assists that Cristiano left empty is being taken by Karim. An example of what he is like are the statements he made after the game, with that normality that he sees things and plays soccer. When you play with that calm and you show it on the field, with the physical point that it has, Karim is capable of doing things like that and still much better“he commented to EFE.

With the figure of the second coach in focus, due to the duo formed by Quique Setién and Eder Sarabia, Karanka analyzes in EFE how, in his opinion, this work has to be. “The second coach has to be the best for his coach, that's why they are positions of trust. In my case, I knew what I could give Jose and the entire coaching staff. The profile of the second coach has to be, first, the personality and second, what the coach demands, more tactical, physical aspect, I think that is the secret; give the head coach what he needs, “he assured.” In my case it is the same. In England someone to help me with the language explaining the exercises, for example. In the end, let him be the coach's right hand to convey what he wants because sometimes the second coach has to“he added.

A Karanka that from July 6 to 31 organizes the 'Future Talents by Aitor Karanka' campus in the Northern Zone of Madrid, which will combine soccer with learning English so that boys and girls enjoy soccer again after confinement. “I like being able to contribute something. First to the coaches and now to the boys and girls so they can have fun, leave the house and learn. We are going to put in English classes. After what we are going through, reuniting with friends and being on a soccer field to spend this time and learn is nice. We know that these are difficult times, that there is a lot of uncertainty, but we hope that the children and parents who leave them on campus have a great time, “he said.

The former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest coach has had a busy return to normality, since he also organized, on June 12 and 13, a conference for coaches of which he is proud. “The truth is that they are very positive because with all the changes we had to make during the process due to the whole situation we were experiencing. At first we wanted to do it face-to-face, but the situation forced us to change the setting until we finally had to do it online. Very happy because there were first-rate speakers and for the 'feedback' we have had from people who have also seen it very well.; especially to highlight that we have reached 77 different countries “, he declared.

Lastly, Karanka analyzed how he is seeing new football after the pandemic: “There are several changes. I already said it when I was a player and now that I am a coach, there are match times when you can't stand it anymore and with the help of the public you get it strength and you don't know where, and right now it's complicated, of course.Then there are hydration stops, which are becoming more tactical stops. The five changes, that the coaches who manage it better have greater advantage. In the end, the more quality you have in the squad, the more advantage you will have “, he concluded.