Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has spoken of his role with the club after Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus last summer.
The French striker has his first season at Santiago Bernabeu without Ronaldo's participation. The two moved to the club together in the summer of 2009 and completed nine consecutive seasons.
With the departure of the Portuguese star, Benzema said he had "a great responsibility" to lead the European champions' attack and score more goals.
"Cristiano is now gone, he is not here to score goals, so I have to replace him," Benzema, 30, told Real Madrid television. "I feel very motivated and ready for this task."
Benzema have scored 10 goals so far in all competitions with Real Madrid and are on their way to surpass the 20-goal mark for the first time since 2015-2016. The best scoring goals were in the 2011-2012 season when they scored 32 times.
The player, who is excluded from the squad, said he was always asked to do more, saying he was "keen on that."
"Real Madrid is always the best club in the world and everyone always wants more than the striker, more goals, more touches and more decisive passes, that's normal."
He concluded: "I am more motivated than ever to make this year great for us."
With the return of the European leagues after the period of international stoppage, Real are preparing to visit Ibar in the 13th stage of the Spanish league on Saturday, having ranked sixth with 20 points.
