Real Madrid News
Key Real Madrid midfielder is likely to miss two or three matches due to injury – report
At the age of 37, Luka Modric will lead the charge for the Croatian National Team in the FIFA World Cup later this year.
The midfielder is understandably the centre-piece in Zlatko Dalic’s side and participated in every minute of Croatia’s two UEFA Nations League encounters in the recently concluded international break.
He returned to Real Madrid with a minor injury and the club confirmed the same via an official announcement on Wednesday. While this does come as a blow to Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, Modric’s fitness is of top priority given his age.
According to reports from Mario Cortegana, the midfield maestro will miss two or three games in light of his fitness setback. The exact period of his absence will be determined by how he recovers.
For the games against Osasuna and Shakhtar Donetsk, Dani Ceballos is best placed to replace Modric in the middle of the park. The Spaniard is expected to start alongside Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni though Eduardo Camavinga makes a strong case to start as well.
In the best-case scenario, the Ballon d’Or winner will make his return against Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Yet, it is likely that he will not be rushed and may make his next appearance only prior to El Clasico.
Many expect this to be the 37-year-old’s final season at the top level. Yet, Modric continues to defy all odds and deliver top-notch performances week in and week out for both club and country.
This season, he already has two goals and one assist for Los Blancos in nine appearances.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
