Real Madrid News
Bundesliga star names Real Madrid veteran as his hardest opponent ever: “He was everywhere”
RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has named Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric as the hardest opponent he has ever come up against on the pitch.
Real Madrid faced RB Leipzig during the group stages of the UEFA Champions League this season, with Los Blancos winning the home game 2-0 in September, before falling to a 3-2 loss away in Germany in November.
Modric only played the home against the Saxony-based outfit and was on the pitch for 81 minutes. And during that time, it seems like the Croatian midfielder managed to make a huge impression on Szoboszlai.
Answering a question from a fan about the hardest opponent he has faced, the RB Leipzig and Hungary midfielder, who has previously admitted to being a childhood Real Madrid supporter, said:
“Modric. He was – when we played against Real Madrid – simply everywhere on the pitch. If I turned to the left, he was there. If I went to the right, he was there. If I tried to go forward, he was one step ahead of me. When I turned around, he was already behind me. So yeah, that’s why I’d say him.”
Despite his advancing years, Modric has continued to be one of the topmost midfielders in the game and remains a pivotal part of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid setup at 37 years of age.
So, naturally, his recent injury blow came as a major blow to the Merengues ahead of important matches against the likes of CA Osasuna and Manchester City.
But, earlier today, Ancelotti offered some hope that the former Tottenham man could recover in time for the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna later this weekend when he said: “We’ll see Modric, he can make it on Saturday.”
Source: RB Leipzig YouTube
Speaking to the media, Brazil Football Confederations (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has claimed that the Selecao have not given up on their pursuit of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, despite the Italian stating that he will not leave the club.
Brazil have been without a manager since the World Cup in Qatar last year, following which Tite stepped down. The CBF have made Ancelotti their top target and have been pursuing his signing for months but to no avail.
The 63-year-old Italian tactician has, on more than one occasion, made it clear that he will be at Real Madrid next season, with his contract expiring in 2024.
However, CBF president Rodrigues is adamant that Ancelotti’s statements are due to him being cautious as he is under contract at Real Madrid and that the Selecao are not prepared to give up on their quest to appoint him as of yet.
“We made a plan, that ‘Plan A’ is the one you know, Ancelotti, and as they say in the ‘ring’ (boxing), I haven’t thrown in the towel yet,” Rodrigues said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
“Because of contracts, people are cautious,” he added.
Ancelotti, for his part, has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to leave Real Madrid unless he is forced out of the club.
Despite missing out on the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League titles last season, the club continue to back the veteran Italian and are planning for next season with him in charge.
So, despite Rodrigues’ confidence and perseverance, it is extremely unlikely that Ancelotti will be leaving Real Madrid for Brazil this summer.
