Real Madrid have one of the greatest midfields ever assembled in the history of football. That fact must be acknowledged, even by those who do not have any fondness for Los Blancos. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro have been the foundation of three straight Champions League-winning sides, serving complementary roles in which they are the best in the world at their respective jobs in midfield.
To this day, the triumvirate remains world-class. Anyone doubting so was presented with a clinic in midfield play on Sunday night at the Santiago Bernabeu in Real’s 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Modric, in particular, was a standout for the Merengue club, dancing around the defense, accurately distributing the ball, and winning possession quickly for his team.
At the age of 36, Modric is still able to play at the highest level against some of the best teams in Europe week after week, multiple times per week. To see a midfielder perform at this level at his age is unprecedented. That means we have literally never seen this before. Go ahead. Name me another midfielder who was among the best in the world in a box-to-box role at the age of 36, consistently delivering top performances for one of the biggest clubs around.
And yet we still hear some analysts refer to Real’s midfield as “aging”. They insinuate that because the players are old – which really only works for Modric, and I’d dare you to use his age against him after having watched him in El Derbi – and therefore not as good. This is used as a disqualifier prefacing any praise for Real’s midfield, as if these supposed old men will suddenly collapse at any moment. Or as if age is anything but a number and that quality beyond the age of 28 is more complex than just looking at a number on a page.
All of Real Madrid’s midfielders have to deal with disrespect
It is lazy “analysis”, it is frustrating, and it is very disrespectful. The Real Madrid midfield trio is still more than capable of bossing the big matches. Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid could not touch Los Blancos in the last three matches. All were 2-0 victories for the Merengue club, and, for such an old midfield, the result was never in doubt in the second half. Despite all the minutes played, there were no signs of fatigue in these matches, even as Real looked worn out in the previous narrower wins over Sevilla and Athletic Club.
Before the Madrid Derby, ESPN FC’s Craig Burley treated Real’s midfield disrespectfully and referred to them by that word. “Aging”. And what did Modric, Casemiro, and Kroos do on Sunday night? They made Burley and anyone else trying to spin this narrative that Real’s midfield is slipping or cannot hold up eat their words.
How many more people will make this mistake? Liverpool fans dared to take shots at Real Madrid, and they were disposed of in the Champions League quarterfinals, specifically by a Toni Kroos masterclass in the first leg. And the last time these two teams faced in a big Champions League match, Modric ran circles around the Reds to such extent that Steven Gerrard lauded him as the best in the world in midfield. Yet to this day, you will still see a few Liverpool fans act as if Modric is not a legend, too.
Kroos is no stranger to disrespect, unfortunately. And despite his Ballon d’Or win, neither is Modric. Casemiro even gets hate from his own fans, who spend a little too much time ruing the poor passes and not enough time focusing on where he excels in his actual role.
Casual fans taking cheap shots is one thing. Ignorance from analysts who are paid to understand the game, however, is another. After years of hearing broadcasters and pundits sneak in the “aging” lines and acting as if Real’s midfield is living on borrow time or not still excellent on the ground stage, it’s fair for Madridistas to be fed up. But, of course, humble leaders like Case, Kroos, and Lukita will let their play do the talking.