Firstly, Belated Happy Birthday to our beloved Lukita.
We all know how crucial this man is for Real Madrid, don’t we? He has been the force binding the whole team together, the connector of all the dots. He is certainly a player that runs the whole game Real Madrid.
For a team like Real Madrid, all three aspects are important: Defence, Midfield, and Attack. But in the formation the Spanish club plays in, the midfield is the heart- a two-chambered heart, run together by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The absence of even one of the two hampers the team’s performance because it isn’t easy for any player to fill their shoes.
Near the end of the last season, we missed Kroos, but Modric put on a splendid double shift to do Toni’s job as well. Of course, he couldn’t do Toni’s job at the top level all on his own, but he pretty much had things covered despite doing two things at once. In the last two matches, Real neither had Kroos nor Modric.
Carlo Ancelotti relied on Isco and Fede Valverde to fill their shoes and they did a good job. Yes, they were good but not at the top level at which the pair of Kroos and Modric perform and that was the main difference against Levante.
Luka Modric is so influential that his absence is definitely felt on the pitch. Here are three things Real Madrid miss the most about him when he is not available.
Luka Modric gives Real Madrid its energy
The way Luka plays all the games, no one can say that this is a 35-year-old (now 36) player. He runs tirelessly up and down the field beating younger players to speed. His impact on the field is uniquely so strong that his absence hampers the whole team’s performance.
What distinguishes Luka Modric from the others is how he plays, especially in the big games. Pick any game and see how exceptional he has been, be it El Clasico or the Madrid Derby.
Generally, a player’s performances deteriorate with age. But Luka is no common player. His performance has rather improved.
One player that is so far capable of filling his shoes is Eduardo Camavinga. The former Rennes player is just 17 and full of energy. He has the potential that is needed to play the Luka Modric role at Real Madrid and that is why Real Madrid had been keeping an eye on him.
We are yet to witness Camavinga play a game for his “dream club”, but our expectations are pretty high for the Frenchman. With the reports that Luka Modric will most probably be back against the Celta Vigo clash, we will be hoping to see him make an impact so that he can be in 100% form against Inter Milan in the mid-week.
Luka Modric Helps Real Madrid Have a Balanced Attack and Defence
Luka Modric is everywhere. You will find him attacking at an advanced position and defending in his own half the very next moment. What makes the Croatian midfielder so special is how he balances his position to help the team.
His energy enables him to run tirelessly covering almost the whole pitch helping Real in both attacks as well as defense. He knows the right time to step up the field and make a larger impact. We have always credited Casemiro for filling the gaps in midfield which he does brilliantly.
But what we fail to notice is that he can do the job that well is because he knows that Modric has his back, that Modric is there to help him in that. As per WhoScored.com, he averaged 1.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game which simply tells how much he contributes defensively.
Now if we talk about attacks. Modric does not only play a central role but also a more attacking one, the role of a CAM, being in the right position to score crucial goals with ease. We all saw how he played last season, scoring 6 goals for the club with golazos against top teams like Barcelona and also in crucial matches like the one against Shakhtar Donetsk and Villarreal.
Apart from this, the outside-the-boot goal in the Euro competition shows us his finishing quality.
Creativity in Midfield and Upfront
One thing we miss when Kroos is absent is creativity from the Midfield. Yes, he specializes in that but he is not the only one in the whole squad capable of doing so.
Isco Alarcon is another player who is capable of creating chances from a Number 10 position. But, since the start of Zidane’s second stint as a Real Madrid coach, Isco’s role in the team significantly reduced which affected his attitude towards the game. The lack of chances to prove his worth reduced his impact on the field, if he came on.
Isco has so far got chances in each of Real Madrid’s games under Ancelotti and has played well too. But not the level we see from Modric in every game and that is the minor difference that can cost a team points in the league games. Modric’s creativity is pretty evident by the stats too.
According to WhoScored.com, he assisted 6 goals last season averaging 1.4 key passes every game which is simply impressive for a midfielder. He also averaged 4.6 long balls every game further indicating how impactful the Croatian is for Real Madrid.
I would be hoping to see him play at the same top level following his return from the injury.