Real Madrid came out with flying colors from arguably what was the toughest stretch of games in the season so far. They won all five against Sevilla, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid. All of these wins except the 2-1 against Sevilla at home were clean-sheets. Just when we thought things were going as well as they possibly could. we’re caught by a familiar foe from the last two seasons.
The recent COVID outbreak has posed questions on the global game. With matches in the Premier League getting cancelled or postponed to teams like Tottenham Hotspurs reaching a situation of near full-squad infection by the novel coronavirus, there are serious chances for the game to shift behind closed doors once again. It goes without saying how much having the fans in the stands means to football clubs, both emotionally and financially.
COVID has also reached the Spanish Capital and as per Real Madrid’s official announcements, seven total cases have been confirmed yet. This includes six players in Marcelo, Luka Moric, Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Rodrygo and Andriy Lunin. The situation at right-wing is thus very troublesome. However, Luka Modric is one player who is well covered. Even though according to reports, Luka Modric tested negative once on Thursday, whether he actually plays the next two games is still in doubt. So, these, in my opinion, are the players who need to step up with Modric ruled out for the remaining games of 2021, or at least for the Cadiz game.
3. TONI KROOS
Real Madrid’s midfield is a two-chambered heart pumped by the talents of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos alongside Casemiro doing the workhorse’s job. And, as it always happens when one of them misses out, the other takes up the responsibility on their shoulders to put in that extra shift for the club and continue the dictation of play in the middle of the park.
It was Luka Modric’s job at the beginning of the season when Toni Kroos was out with an injury and now that the Croatian maestro has contracted the virus, Toni Kroos will be more than happy to pay Modric back his extra shifts.
He’d not be alone though. As I already talked about Real’s squad depth, Luka Modric will have more than capable players to cover for him. But, Toni Kroos’s job will have more to do with leadership. Whichever young gun replaces Modric in the upcoming matches, Toni Kroos will have the job to lead them well, establish communication and make the midfield tweak like he always does.
There obviously are heightened responsibilities on the German’s shoulders now for the upcoming games and I am sure he’d do a great job.