Real Madrid: 5 burning questions after 3-2 win over Inter Milan

Is it time for Luka Modric to get another start?

Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde, and Casemiro started in midfield for Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan this Tuesday, and that was a wise call from Zinedine Zidane. All things being equal, that is the most ideal midfield trio for Los Blancos, even if it’s tough to leave Luka Modric on the bench.

Valverde was awesome again, but Kroos struggled and Casemiro was the worst player on the pitch. Kroos made way for Modric, who changed the game off the bench yet again.

Modric is so important to Real Madrid, and there has not been a more consistent and impressive player for Los Blancos in 2020-2021 than the 35-year-old Croatian legend.

Valencia at the Mestalla is never an easy fixture, no matter the current state of the Bats. Modric can provide the quality in the center of the park that Real Madrid so desperately need in a massive fixture like this one.

What on earth is wrong with Casemiro?

Casemiro was one of Real Madrid’s top performers last season, and you could make the case that only top goal-scorer and assist-provider Karim Benzema was more important to Los Merengues than the defensive midfielder. He owned the souls of so many attacking players, including Lionel Messi, and he never took a day off.

But that lack of rest may have caught up to him in 2020-2021. Whereas Casemiro’s “off” days were rare last season, his “on” days are rare this season. And my goodness, was he off against Inter Milan!

There is no doubt in my mind that he was the worst player on the pitch. He made clumsy tackles, looked slow defensively, and made so many poor passes that crushed Real’s attacks. Casemiro has become a target for other teams as a player who is easy to press into mistakes.

Real Madrid have no alternatives to Casemiro, unless they call on Antonio Blanco from Castilla. It is a conundrum that is quietly brewing for Zinedine Zidane.