Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane praised Luka Modric, after the 35-year-old midfielder put on a stunning performance in the 3-1 victory over Atlanta last night to reach the Spanish champions to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Modric played a major role in Real Madrid's first goal by contributing to the high pressure of his team and intercepting a ball from Atlanta goalkeeper Marco Sportillo, to pass it to Karim Benzema, who opened the scoring.
Zidane told reporters - after his team qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018 - "We all know Modric's abilities, he may be 35 years old, but he definitely doesn't look like that on the field."
Together with other veteran midfielder Toni Kroos, 31, and in the absence of defending midfielder Casemiro, the Croatian player helped Real Madrid control the game and deal with strong pressure from Atalanta.
"Every player has his own characteristics, and the two were very impressive at the center of the midfield," added the French coach, speaking of Kroos and Modric.
⚪️ Luka Modrić & Toni Kroos…
🤔 Best midfield duo you've seen in Champions League history? #UCL pic.twitter.com/cNPoI1rTeT
- UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 16, 2021
Modric, who won the 2018 FIFA World Player of the Year award, said he still felt fit enough to continue playing for several years at the highest level in Europe.
"I feel like I'm still 27 years old. I feel really in good shape, and this shows that you don't have to look at a person's age, what matters is what he does on the field," the Croatian player added.
"In my current situation and in light of all that I have achieved with this club, I still feel an insatiable hunger to continue competing at the highest level, and I will continue to work hard every day, to do so."
Apart from two chances in favor of the Italian team, Real Madrid dominated the match to a comfortable 4-1 victory in the aggregate score thanks to a penalty kick by Sergio Ramos and a late goal by Marco Asensio that came right after Luis Morell narrowed the lead for Atalanta with a free kick.
Zidane said, "The players should be congratulated because they played very well from start to finish against a team whose confrontation requires a lot of physical effort."
"We did exactly what we needed to do, whether in defense or while the ball was in our possession. We can say it was a perfect performance," he added.
The press has always attacked Zidane for his reliance on a lineup of older players such as Karim Benzema (33 years), indicating that this has caused the successive setbacks for the Spanish league champion since he was crowned the Champions League in 2018.
Atlanta striker Muriel expressed his admiration for Real Madrid's calm under pressure.
The Colombian player said, "They were getting rid of our pressure with ease. This is something that definitely admires you, to be this calm with the ball even though they were playing a match that would have caused them many problems if they lost."
"There are no players at this level in Italian football," he added.