Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema scored the winning goal as he made his debut for Saudi Champions Al-Ittihad in their 2-1 win over Tunisian side Esperance in the Arab Club Champions Cup.
After netting an angled shot from outside the box in the second half on Thursday, the Frenchman told the Saudi SSC television channel: “It was a strong match and a good start after hard work in preparation.
“Little by little we will build a great team.”
Benzema, who joined Al-Ittihad as a free agent after a trophy-laden 14 years at Real Madrid, went to greet the cheering fans with his new team mate and compatriot N’golo Kante.
“The atmosphere is amazing and the fans motivated the team from the first minute until the end,” he added.
“We are in good shape and we will continue to work to reach the required level, and we know that with this support we can achieve great things, thanks to the fans.”
Reporting by Ahmed Mostafa; Writing by Osama Khairy; Editing by Louise Heavens and Pritha Sarkar
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema marked his debut for Saudi Champions Al-Ittihad with a winning goal in their 2-1 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in the Arab Club Champions Cup. The Frenchman, who recently joined Al-Ittihad after a successful 14-year trophy-laden career with Real Madrid, netted an angled shot from outside the box during the second half of the match.
Expressing his thoughts on the game, Benzema stated in an interview with Saudi SSC television channel, “It was a strong match and a good start after hard work in preparation. Little by little, we will build a great team.” This debut goal and performance are promising indications for the team’s future.
After securing the win, Benzema took the opportunity to greet Al-Ittihad’s cheering fans alongside his new teammate and fellow Frenchman N’golo Kante. The warm reception and support from the supporters left a positive impression on the forward. “The atmosphere is amazing, and the fans motivated the team from the first minute until the end,” he expressed his gratitude.
Benzema is optimistic about the team’s prospects and the potential for success. He emphasized that they are in good shape and will continue working hard to reach the required level. With the unwavering support of the fans, he believes they can achieve great things together.
The successful debut match and goal for Karim Benzema symbolize a promising start to his journey with Al-Ittihad. As a free agent, his presence adds strength and experience to the team. Al-Ittihad’s fans and supporters will be eagerly anticipating further displays of Benzema’s prowess on the field.
