Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder opens up on playing with Modric: “Understand each other perfectly”
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has explained how it feels to play alongside a quality player like Luka Modric, saying that after almost nine years together, the two have developed a great connection.
Modric and Kroos have been together at Real Madrid since the 2014-15 season, although it must be remembered that Modric moved to Spain in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur.
Over the years, the two have formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the team, winning four UEFA Champions League and three La Liga titles together.
Despite being on the wrong side of their 30s, the two continue to be at the top of their game and it is only achieved thanks to a perfect understanding.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona, Kroos explained how his relationship is with Modric.
“I’m very good playing by his side. We understand each other perfectly after almost nine years of playing together,” said the German midfielder according to Mundo Deportivo.
“We have a good connection both on and off the pitch and we know what the other is doing. Despite everything, there are always important people around us.”
Meanwhile, Kroos also spoke about Eduardo Camavinga’s performance against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, saying that the Frenchman’s presence helped the team especially while getting the better of the Reds physically.
Deployed as a pivot by Carlo Ancelotti in the second leg, the 20-year-old proved to be the backbone of his team on Wednesday night.
“Camavinga had a spectacular game against Liverpool on Wednesday and he helped us a lot, especially in the physical aspect,” said Kroos.
“We have a very good midfield and it depends on the game you want to play. As I’m a team player, it is important to talk about everyone. We two have more history than the others, but what’s important is what you do now,” the German claimed.
Touching on the importance of tomorrow’s game, Kroos added: “We know the importance of the match. For us, it’s important to get closer to them if we win. I don’t know what kind of game we’re going to see.”
When quizzed about how he thinks the match will go, he said: “Sometimes I wonder what is going to happen in the Clásico and I never get it right. It is always a special and unique game.”
Underlining that Real Madrid are up for the challenge, Kroos added: “We play well against big opponents. It’s what great teams do. If we continue like this, we’ll be fine. Also, after the draw for the Champions League, we have to do it to reach the final.”
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
