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UEFA CUP: Benzema wants more as Lyon fall short

/noticias.info/ Striker Karim Benzema blamed a hesitancy in attack for the 1-0 loss in Manchester which ended Olympique Lyonnais' UEFA Champions League campaign.

Ronaldo winner
Lyon bowed out 2-1 on aggregate after a spirited performance at Old Trafford. Though the home side enjoyed much of the possession, Lyon were a threat on the break and were unfortunate not to cancel out Cristiano Ronaldo's goal when substitute Kader Keita struck the post with a low drive 16 minutes from time.

'Really disappointing'
With only one goal separating the sides, Lyon were in with a chance until the end, making the eventual outcome particularly hard to take. "It is really disappointing because we gave everything to qualify," the 20-year-old Benzema said. "We played well but we just didn't manage to get the goal we needed. We were well in it right up to the last minute. We tried everything and we have to be pleased with the way we played, we showed character tonight. In a match like that it is hard to take risks because you could concede easily. Perhaps we needed to have a little bit more confidence in attack, but it is hard to play against a team like that because if you lose the ball then they can break quickly."

'Good game'
Benzema has taken the UEFA Champions League by storm in his first full season in the competition. Though compared with Zinédine Zidane, the Lyon-native instead showed glimpses of his idol Ronaldo as he ran with pace and power at the United defence and tussled gamely with Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand. "They're big defenders, not easy to play against, but I feel I battled well and had a good game," he said.

'Experience'
"A match like that is important personally because it gives you a lot of experience. It's the first year that I've played a series of games in the Champions League and it has been a big experience to play against teams like Manchester, Rangers [FC and FC] Barcelona, all big teams. It's made me want to do it again," added Benzema, who scored four goals in seven games, including a superb strike against United in the first leg. "But I've still got a lot of work to do if I want to play at the top level."

Bordeaux test
Before then there are domestic duties to attend to, starting with the top-of-the-table clash with FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday. Benzema knows Lyon must put their Old Trafford disappointment behind them quickly. "We have to forget this game, turn the page and start thinking about Bordeaux," he said. "We have to concentrate on that. It's up to us to play a big game at the Gerland Stadium. They are just behind us and it's going to be difficult to win the league." notas_de_prensa_archivo