Ancelotti: You will see a different Benzema from now on in 2023

In the 2022 calendar year,

 was involved in 40 goals in all competitions which is more than any other La Liga player.

The 35-year-old striker scored 44 goals in 46 appearances last season but he has struggled with injuries this season and only has scored 8 goals in 13 games.

After the game, Carlo Ancelotti said Benzema is very motivated to return to his best form in the new year.

"I see Benzema very motivated, and I think you will see a different Benzema from now on in 2023,"

Ancelotti told DAZN.

 moved to the top of La Liga with a point clear of

who will face Espanyol on Saturday.

Ancelotti told LaLigaTV:

"There are a lot of good news from this game.

"The result first, the performance of Thibaut [Courtois], the two goals of Karim. We finished this year, that was an amazing year, in the best way.

"It was really difficult. We started well, then we had difficulties, did well first half, did well at the end of the game. It's quite normal after you come back after a long holiday, it's not easy."

Ancelotti admitted that some of his players are not in their best condition following the World Cup break.

"

We have players with different conditions,"

the Italian said.

"Some players arrived yesterday.

"It's true they also didn’t have their own break, only 10 days. There's not a lot of time to put all of them in good condition. We have to work on this."

Real Madrid’s manager also praised Eduardo Camavinga's impact as a substitute who provided the assist for Benzema’s second goal.

"He has shown it since he arrived,"

Ancelotti said.

"He makes a difference when he enters the game because he has a lot of energy. He is an important player for us."

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