The France striker was substituted in the first half of the Copa del Rey defeat to Celta Vigo with an ankle injury and missed the draw against Espanyol on Sunday, though he could return to face Malaga.

Mourinho did not mention Benzema's name, but compared young striker Alvaro Morata to some of his other players who do not take less glamorous matches as seriously.

"My belief is that as a player you only come off when you cannot carry on and for the next match you won't be available," he told AS.

"The best thing about Morata is that he is young but has ambition and wants to learn, not like others who would not play this game because it's cold, it's raining or it's a cup match."

Benzema has scored just three times in La Liga this season, but was voted France's best player of 2012, beating Franck Ribery and Hugo Lloris to the prize.