Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema says he is fed up with being substituted by Rafa Benitez

Benzema has completed 90 minutes in just one out of six league games so far

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has vented out his frustrations over being substituted once too often this season reports Spanish sports newspaper AS. The French International was voicing his concerns after he was withdrawn in the second half of the game against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Benzema had opened the scoring for Los Blancos early in the first half only for Atletico to equalise late in the second half through Luciano Vietto. The match ended in a 1-1 draw leaving Real Madrid second in the league just a solitary point behind leaders Villareal.

“Substitutions are what the coach decides. I am just there to help my teammates. It's true I'm fed up of being taken off.

“I'm calm and will continue to work so I'm not always substituted. He took me off to get a result, for defensive reasons,” exclaimed the visibly distraught 27-year-old.

He also added, "It's true that the electronic board always shows the No.9. Ask Benitez why that is."

Benzema’s performance so far

It would appear that Benzema’s outburst was quite reasonable since the Frenchman has started the season in great style. He is the leading goal getter in La Liga at present with six goals in just six appearances and has scored eight goals overall already. He has been impressive with his hold-up play and has completed an incredible 83.6% of his passes. He was the match of the match for his superlative performance in the game against Athletic Bilbao which included two well-taken goals.

Despite putting in a string of great performances since the start of the current Liga campaign, manager Rafael Benitez has substituted his No. 9 a remarkable seven times out of the eight matches that Real Madrid have played so far.

Benzema has completed 90 minutes for the team just the once in the goalless draw against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. But his substitution in the Madrid derby on Sunday despite being the goalscorer was enough to tempt the striker into a public outburst.

Benitez in damage control mode

However, Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez was quick to douse reports of discontent from the Frenchman in an interview to a late night radio talk-show El Larguero.

"We have a good relationship and he’s a great player. I’ve laid down a challenge for him to score, 20 to 25 goals this season and I’m delighted with his response.

“I’d also be annoyed if the coach was taking me off. I’d go out of my way to score twice to avoid get getting subbed. I’ve never had a problem with him."

But Benzema’s National team head coach Didier Deschamps has leapt to the aid of his striker. "I won't substitute him," he said. "Benzema is a team player, he is very important for us. He always wants to score with us, but scoring is not everything to him." He also added that the striker should be playing the full 90 minutes of games since his contribution to the team is invaluable.