Mourinho confirms Benzema injury

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has confirmed Karim Benzema will miss Sunday’s trip to face Espanyol in La Liga, due to injury.

The France striker suffered a groin strain and will be out of action for at least two weeks, according to the Portuguese tactician.

“Benzema is injured and cannot play – he has an injury that will keep him out for a couple of weeks, so he will miss the Espanyol game and possibly Betis too,” the former Inter coach told reporters in his press conference.

Benzema is likely to be replaced by fellow front man Gonzalo Higuain, and Mourinho was full of praise for the Argentine hitman, who has endured his fair share of injury problems of late.

“Higuain started a week ago against Rayo (Vallecano) and scored. It is difficult to compare a player like Benzema, who had a fantastic pre-season, with another (Higuain) who came back from complicated surgery and had a non-existent pre-season,” he added.

“Higuain’s statistics are excellent on the field and our opponents know he has goals in him.”

Mourinho also spoke of including Kaka and Mesut Oezil in the same starting line-up, after both impressed in the 3-0 Champions League win against Ajax on Tuesday.

“I liked the last game because there were two players who always wanted the ball and had the cool heads needed to control the game. I liked both of their responses,” he said.

“Kaka is a fantastic player who has had some difficult times of late and we will have to go easy with him because we do not want to spoil the work we are doing.”

Mourinho said while his side would play with their usual attacking flair on Sunday, Espanyol’s ability to exploit the counter-attack must come into their tactical calculations.

“The team are not scared of any opponent. They obviously have to study their adversary and probably will need to make slight changes in their style depending on their rival’s strengths and weaknesses, but the philosophy is the same as well as the style of play,” he said.

“We are going to have a game that will be open, as we will have to attack and defend.”