Toni Kroos believes Karim Benzema has filled the Cristiano Ronaldo void at Real Madrid "to perfection" after enjoying a stunning 2021-22 season that has him in Ballon d'Or contention.
Heading into Saturday's Champions League final, Benzema has scored 44 goals from 45 matches across all competitions this term, which is 12 more than his previous best for a single campaign.
Similarly, his record of 0.98 goals per game is also comfortably the best he has managed over the course of one season.
Add to that a haul of 15 assists, Benzema's 59 goal involvements is second only to Kylian Mbappe (60 – 39 goals, 21 assists), highlighting just how much of a double threat Los Blancos' talisman has been.
Among his goals have been some crucial strikes as well. He netted consecutive hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the Champions League, before also scoring three times over the course of the semi-final defeat of Manchester City.
He has not always been Madrid's main man in attack, with Benzema speaking openly in the past about having to sacrifice his own output for Ronaldo during their time together at the Santiago Bernabeu – he scored just five league goals in the 2017-18 season, for example.
But Kroos admires how the Frenchman has stepped up.
"It wasn't easy to become an even better player," Kroos told ZDF. "I've seen him for eight seasons in all kinds of different roles. Not in other positions, but in terms of the jobs he did on the pitch.
"There were times when he had to pull the bandwagon with his goals and others in which he used to look more to his right and left.
"Cristiano scored 50 goals per season for us and Gareth [Bale] was also on the left in his best years. Those two pillars fell from us.
"Others came like Vinicius [Junior] or Rodrygo, who are evolving very well, but we weren't able to cover Cristiano's 50 goals with just one player until Karim took on that role to perfection."
Saturday's game will be the third European Cup/Champions League final to be contested between Madrid and Liverpool, making it the most common match-up in UEFA's club showpiece.
Although Madrid won LaLiga with four matches to spare, there is a consensus they have exceeded expectations in the Champions League, particularly given they have had great escapes in all three knockout rounds.
Despite that, Kroos does not necessarily consider Liverpool favourites, even if he does accept they have been Europe's best this season.
"Honestly, I think this Liverpool are a better team than in 2018," he added, looking back to Madrid's 3-1 final victory in Kyiv.
"They managed to retain their best players and they signed a few more. Thiago [Alcantara] sets the standards in midfield, they are still very strong at the back and I think that, in terms of record, they were the best team in Europe this season.
"But it's still just one game and you also have to take into account that we eliminated them last season in the quarter-finals. It's 50-50."
He continued: "In a Champions League final you give everything, especially considering that we already had to give everything on more than one occasion to reach the final.
"Now we're there and we want to win the cup, yes, all being aware of the great rival we face."
UEFA awaits reports following Jose Mourinho’s rant at referee Anthony Taylor
UEFA is awaiting the match official’s reports before deciding whether to take action against Jose Mourinho for his rant at referee Anthony Taylor after Roma’s Europa League final defeat, the PA news agency understands.
Roma boss Mourinho was critical of Taylor in his post-match press conference after his side’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Sevilla in Budapest on Wednesday night.
And in video footage which later emerged on social media, the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager is seen gesticulating at Taylor and officials in the stadium car park and heard saying “disgrace”.
Taylor booked Mourinho during the game, which finished 1-1 after extra time before Sevilla sealed their seventh Europa League triumph by winning 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out.
Tempers simmered on and off the pitch in a disappointing final, with 13 players shown yellow cards, seven of them to Roma players, while fourth official Michael Oliver had his work cut out to keep control of both dug-outs.
The game was littered with delays, with a total of 25 minutes’ stoppage time added to the 120 minutes of playing time.
Mourinho lost for the first time in his sixth major European final, while Sevilla extended their record number of tournament wins following previous successes in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020.
Conor Coady returns to Wolves as Everton pass up option on permanent deal
Conor Coady has left Everton and returned to Wolves following his loan spell, with the Toffees having passed up an option to sign the defender on a permanent basis.
The Goodison Park club have also announced that former Wolves defender Ruben Vinagre will return to Sporting Lisbon after an injury-impacted loan spell on Merseyside.
Coady made 25 appearances for Everton this season, including a start in Sunday’s vital 1-0 win over Bournemouth which secured safety, and scored two goals.
Coady, capped 10 times by England, joined the Toffees last August in a deal which included an option to buy, but that option has now expired.
Vinagre made only four appearances in all competitions.
Everton director of football Kevin Thelwell said: “We want to sincerely thank Conor and Ruben for their impeccable professionalism and valuable contributions both on and off the pitch during their time with the club.
“We wish both players the best in their futures.”
Dundee finally get in touch with Paul McGowan before announcing departure
Dundee have announced the departure of “bona fide club legend” Paul McGowan – just hours after bizarrely claiming they had been “unable to get in touch” with their long-serving midfielder.
The newly-promoted cinch Premiership club announced late on Wednesday evening that Alex Jakubiak, Jordan Marshall, Paul McMullan, Luke Strachan and Cillian Sheridan would not be offered new contracts and that goalkeeper Ian Lawlor had joined Doncaster.
In the statement in which news of the departing players was delivered, Dundee said: “The club has been unable to get in touch with Paul McGowan and an update will be given regarding Paul once contact has been made with him.”
In a further statement provided at 7.28am on Thursday, Dundee were able to add more meat to the bone regarding the future of a player who made 302 appearances for the Dark Blues before joining Dunfermline on loan in January.
“Dundee Football Club can now confirm, having spoken to the player in question, that Paul McGowan will be leaving the club upon the end of his current contract this summer,” it read.
Dundee then paid tribute to “a bona fide club legend” who “served the club faithfully for the last nine years”.
McGowan, 35, thanked Dundee for “some unforgettable times”.
“Despite leaving on loan earlier this year, this remains a very difficult message to write,” he said.
“After nine years with Dundee, I have left the club on a permanent basis at the end of my contract.
“The club has been a huge part of my life and my career. It will be a strange feeling to no longer be a Dundee player.
“I gave my all every time I pulled on the Dundee shirt and it has been an incredible honour to do so 302 times.
“From day one I was welcomed with open arms and I have met many friends for life, too many to mention by name. You all know who you are and I’m thankful for all the hard work that goes in behind the scenes at the club.
“I want to thank all the team-mates I have had over the years as well as all the managers and coaches who I have worked under.
“Finally, I have to thank the fans. The backing the team and myself have received during my time at Dens has been incredible.
“Through good times and bad times, you have shown unbelievable support.
“We have had some unforgettable times together and I wish the club all the best for the future.”
Newly-appointed manager Tony Docherty has started rebuilding the Dundee squad for their return to the cinch Premiership after they secured the Championship title on the last weekend of the season under previous boss Gary Bowyer.
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