Why did Benzema skip the press conference to meet Liverpool?

As is customary, each team sends two players and coaches to share with the media before the Champions League final. Initially, captain Karim Benzema will accompany Carlo Ancelotti to attend a press conference at the Stade de France on May 27. But, according to Spanish journalist Miguel Angel Diaz of COPEBenzema changed his mind because he thought that his interview the day before the big game was a bad omen for Real.

Benzema attended the press conference before the match against PSG in the first leg of the 1/8 Champions League round in Paris. This match, Real did not hit the target once and let Kylian Mbappe score the only goal. In the second leg, Benzema did not attend the press conference and immediately shone with a hat-trick in 17 minutes Real won 3-1.

Benzema is known to be quite superstitious. In the video uploaded on Real’s official YouTube channel, the French striker revealed pre-match procedures that he believes bring luck. Accordingly, he will raise his right foot and let the Real kit manager touch the toe of the shoe. He did the same thing with his left foot, then came out on the field.

In addition, the 34-year-old striker always wears a finger bandage when playing. In the match against Real Betis in January 2019, Benzema broke a bone and broke the tendon of his right little finger when he collided with midfielder Marc Bartra. Although he has recovered, he still wears a bandage on his finger, believing it to bring him good luck and improve his performance.

This season, Benzema sublimated with 44 goals in 45 matches in all competitions this season, including 27 goals in La Liga, 15 in the Champions League and two in the Spanish Super Cup. He contributed greatly to Real’s victory in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, and towards the 14th European Cup/UEFA Champions League title in history.

In the knockout stages of the Champions League alone, Benzema has scored 10 goals in six games. This is also the record that the former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo established in the 2016-2017 season. If he scores against Liverpool, the French striker will set a new milestone.

Although absent from the press conference, Benzema still gave an interview on the UEFA homepage earlier this week. Here, he aims to break Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 17 goals in the Champions League in the 2013-14 season. To do this, Benzema must score at least three goals against Liverpool today. He said: “Records will always exist, and they will be broken. For me, the most important thing is to give my all on the pitch to help the team win. It’s also important to score goals or assist. But it’s important. Most importantly, go out and win.”

On May 27, two Real players and coach Ancelotti attended the press conference, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Marcelo. Here, Courtois asserted get ready for the penalty shootout, and Marcelo – who will leave the Bernabeu this summer – is ambitious to win the last title Real. Meanwhile, Ancelotti recalled Liverpool’s reverse defeat on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final, despite leading 3-0 at half-time, to warn his students. At that time, Ancelotti led Milan

Hong Duy (follow AS)