Al-Ittihad sack their coach and Benzema is responsible?

Al-Ittihad football club was not a pleasant environment to be at the end of August. The Saudi media wrote about the total crisis, about the conflict between Karim Benzema and Nuno Espirito Santo, about the fact that the Portuguese did not even want Benzema in the team, and that he did not listen to the French's request that he be the captain of the team.

Al-Ittihad was the leader at the time with three wins from three games, but after 12 rounds they have only 21 of a possible 36 points and occupy only sixth place in the table. It is obvious that the team from Jeddah is not doing great, the tensions between the first star of the team and the coach have culminated. According to the Spanish Relevo, Benzema did everything in his power to effect the dismissal of Espirito Santo, the coach who brought Al-Ittihad an unexpected title last season.

The Spanish media reports that the relationship between the Portuguese and the French has reached a point of no return and that the club is already preparing a replacement. Espirito Santo's team has registered only two victories in the last seven matches, they have lost two games in a row and very soon Laurent Blanc could take the helm, in order to calm the storm in the dressing room. And at the same time, it is not only Karim who is dissatisfied but also his countryman, N'Golo Kante.

Benzema would be very pleased with the new collaboration with Blanc. When he was France coach from 2010 to 2012, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner was a regular member of Les Bleus.

Since leaving Real Madrid this year and moving to Al-Ittihad, Benzema has played 12 matches in all competitions, scoring six and setting up three goals.