Dominating Champions League matches is a colossal task for a 35-year-old midfielder.
At that age,
Xavi Hernández
played his last season at Barcelona, relegated to the background by
Luis Enrique
.
Also 35 years old,
Andrea Pirlo
led Juventus to the final in Berlin, albeit escorted by two such energetic partners as
Arturo Vidal
and
Paul Pogba
and by a relentless defense.
However,
Luka Modric
does not need any of these requirements to maintain his exceptional performance at Real Madrid.
Today's derby against Atlétio is one more effort for Modric, who has started seven of the last eight Madrid games, where he played every minute except 21 against Alavés.
His clairvoyance with the ball is complemented by an exemplary sacrifice in the thankless tasks.
Without going any further, on Wednesday he participated in 10 disputes with Borussia footballers and in six of them he ended up winning the ball.
After his mediocre last season, the Croatian has recovered the level that led him in 2018 to the Ballon d'Or, The Best award and the World Cup final in Moscow.
To understand Modric's improvement, you only have to travel a few months in time, specifically, to the first three weeks of last September.
It was an anomalous preseason, due to the demands of the pandemic, plagued by physical sessions and orphaned by friendly matches.
"This is the only time of the year when you can work like this," admitted the Zadar genius, determined to avoid the muscular problems that kept him from six games last season.
"Enjoy every moment"
Today, after three months of competition, the sacrifices with
Gregory Dupont
, the physical trainer is reflected in results on paper.
At the moment, only
Raphael Varane
(1,440) and
Karim Benzema
(1,184) surpass Modric (1,160) in minutes on the grass.
"I feel motivated.
I know that I am not at the beginning of my career and that this will not last forever, but I want to enjoy every moment ”, admitted Modric almost a month ago, in the hours before Croatia's commitment to Portugal.
As he himself has reiterated on numerous occasions, his efforts with his team are very willingly carried out.
"I feel better when I play games in a row than when they dose me," he slipped during another of the concentrations for the UEFA Nations League.
Both in Croatia and Madrid he is the oldest of the squad.
The
grandfather
, as
Sergio Ramos
affectionately baptized him
during his last birthday in the capital.
Free agent in June
In three weeks, Modric will be able to negotiate with any club to leave as a free agent in June, when his current contract at the Bernabéu expires.
Luka, with 17 titles distributed over eight years, could even admit a pay cut to enjoy a final season of goodbye.
His case joins those of Sergio Ramos and
Lucas Vázquez
, who will also have to streamline the procedures in the coming weeks.
In any case, Madrid is going to show respect for an exemplary player, essential for the conquest of the last four Champions.
A midfielder of those who no longer remain.
Not even in the most recent dominators of the tournament.
Because the successes of Liverpool and Bayern were not based on the contributions of
Jordan Henderson
and
Fabinho
or
Joshua Kimmich
and
Thiago Alcántara
, but on the ferocity of their transitional football.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Real Madrid
Sergio Ramos
Luka modric
Raphael varane
Uefa Nations League
Arturo vidal
Luis Enrique
Karim Benzema
sports
Champions League
football
FC Barcelona
ChampionsThe return of Benzema and the resilience of Zidane: "We always overcome difficult moments"
Champions Ramos, against the Borussia colts: A commanding voice for an entire final
Champions League 2020 - 2021A victory for Madrid of the others
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