Karim Benzema insists he is happy at Real Madrid despite his frustrations over a lack of playing time.

AssociatedKarim Benzema is enjoying his time at Real Madrid

• Benzema bemoans France criticism

France international Benzema has featured in 22 La Liga games this season, but he has made just 12 starts as the fierce battle for a place in the first XI rages at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I feel good, but I'd be happier if I was playing more. But I'm in a club like Real so I can only be happy," he told RMC radio in his homeland. "At big clubs, it's the same everywhere."

He believes coach Jose Mourinho has faith in him and added: "It's up to me to put in good performances when I'm on the pitch.

"My relationship with the coach is one of a coach and a player. That's it. I accept his choices. He's the coach, he decides, and I have nothing to add to that. And when I don't play, I'm there for the team too."

Though Gonzalo Higuain appears to be favoured by Mourinho for the moment, Benzema will no doubt be required if Madrid, who are all but out of the running for the Liga title, are to pick up their much sought-after tenth European title.

"I want to win the Champions League with Madrid," he said. "Ever since my first year here, people have been talking to me about this tenth Champions League. It would be extraordinary to win it, and we're going to do all we can to do that this season."

Benzema's agent recently dismissed speculation linking him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, but the player is not ruling out a future return to his native country, and not necessarily to his hometown club, Lyon.

"Why not at the end of my career? You're probably going to tell me that I'll soon be at the end of my career," he added. "But I could come back to France, yes. Why not? In one of the best clubs in France, the best one at that time."