Karim Benzema's brutal response when asked about Al Ittihad form

Karim Benzema recently swapped Spain for Saudi Arabia to end a glittering spell at Real Madrid - but it appears he might need some help if he is to experience success in the Middle East.

The 36-year-old former French international departed the Santiago Bernabeu club last summer and moved to Al Ittihad and the Saudi Pro League on a free transfer.

After moving to Real in the summer of 2009 from French side Lyon, Benzema scored 354 goals in 648 games in all competitions.

In that time, Benzema won La Liga four times and and five Champions League titles, as well as four UEFA Super Cups, five FIFA club World Cups and three Copa del Reys.

Since moving to Al Ittihad, Benzema has scored 15 goals in 30 games, but his new club are well off the pace in the Saudi Pro League title race.

Al Ittihad sit in fourth place at present, ahead of Al Taawoun on goal difference, on 47 points.

But they are a colossal 30 points behind league leaders Al Hilal after 27 games.

And they are nearly 20 points behind Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, who are second on 65 points.

Looking at Al Ittihad's stats, they have lost eight games out of 27, while the league leaders are unbeaten with a remarkable 25 wins.

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Benzema is yet to experience the same level of success at Al Ittihad as he did in La Liga - and it could be some time before he does, judging by his most recent comments.

Benzema was asked by a journalist why he is not hitting the personal heights he did at Real Madrid now at new club Al Ittihad.

And the Frenchman made it clear that he cannot achieve success on his own and needs help from others in order to do so, as well as pointing out the situation he finds himself in Saudi Arabia is very different to what he experienced in Spain.

He said: "It's because it's not the same game, it's not the same players. I need help on the pitch. I can't win one game alone.

"I need other players and I need a lot of things.

"But it's different. It's my first season in Saudi, I hope to finish the season well, I hope I win and that's it."

Topics: Karim Benzema, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid

John McDougall