Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka thinks Karim Benzema's hat-trick heroics against Auxerre will turn out to be good news for the team.
Benzema has struggled for goals since his big-money move from Lyon in 2009 and going into Wednesday night's Champions League encounter with Auxerre he had struck just three times in all competitions this season - compared to 21 by leading marksman Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the 22-year-old France international doubled his tally for the campaign with a treble against Auxerre, scoring in the 11th, 72nd and 88th minutes of the 4-0 win at the Bernabeu.
Karanka, who sat on the bench for already-qualified group winners Madrid against Auxerre in place of the suspended Jose Mourinho, said: "We know how Karim is, what he does on a daily basis, and it was important that he had a night like this.
"This will serve him and the team very well. Scoring in Amsterdam (against Ajax) when we were still not qualified was very good for him as well. We must all leave him alone so that he does not feel more pressure."
Benzema said on Spanish television: "I've enjoyed this and this is good for me and for the team. I'm feeling better all the time in this team. I will continue working hard to carry on like this."
With uncertainty surrounding Gonzalo Higuain's back injury and how long the prolific Argentinian might be out for, Benzema knows he has a chance to push his claims for a regular starting berth under Mourinho.
"I hope he (Higuain) returns as soon as possible, but now I will have more minutes and I want to take advantage of that," added Benzema.
Ronaldo, who scored Madrid's other goal as the Spanish giants finished the group stages with 16 out of a possible 18 points, the best record of all the qualifiers, added: "We must celebrate the good game that Karim had because he deserves it. He is working very well, he is very professional and important for us."
The Portugal international added: "The team played well. We were already qualified for the last 16 but we wanted to gain prestige because we were playing at home. I want to congratulate all my team-mates."
Regarding who they might draw in the last 16 - a stage Madrid have failed to get beyond in any of the last six editions - Ronaldo said: "I don't want any special team, all the opponents are difficult.
