The horrible week Real Madrid at Di Stéfano, those costalazos against Cádiz and Shakhtar, they left obvious victims (Marcelo, Isco, Jovic …) and an unexpected one: Luka modric. The Croatian happens to be one of the fittest footballers in this first stretch of the white team's course despite being 35 years old (and ending the contract in 2021) and yet was the sacrifice of Zidane when the Frenchman resorted to 4-3-3 in the Classical. A substitution that did not sit well with him and more coming from his goal against Shakhtar that started Madrid's comeback attempt. “I'm sure Luka didn't like it,” said Pedja Mijatovic in Sports Carousel. The Montenegrin knows the Croatian midfielder well. It was not an on-air comment.
The fact is that Modric grit his teeth at the Camp Nou, when Zidane appealed to him in the second half he resolved the ballot with 1-3 and the house brand, with the outside of his right hand. Second consecutive goal and ownership request denied by his coach. Three days later, in Mönchengladbach, Modric again found his bones on the bench. Meritocracy in reverse. Everything indicates that it is his turn to turn against him Huesca this Saturday, but …
Modric's goal, with the outside, in the Classic.
AFP
His performance is 'top' and the numbers support him
It is his turn against Huesca. His performance demands play. Despite being the oldest footballer on the team, he does not save sweat. Only Casemiro steals more balls (one every 11 minutes) than the Croatian (one every 14 '), who improves the recovery capacity of Fede Valverde (one every 15 ') and Kroos (one every 17'), its main competitors. Nor does it suffer in the efficiency in the passes. Modric is behind the accuracy of Kroos (91% correct), with 89% effectiveness in his passes, better than El Pajarito (88%), Casemiro (85%) and Isco (82%).
Modric's two goals at this point show him more daring than ever. More incisive. In the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons, for example, he only scored one in the entire year. The 2018 Ballon d'Or is aging sweetly and although Zidane has him as a removable midfielder right now, the Balkan is not resigned. Huesca, today, can pay for the broken dishes.