Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric has spoken out about his lack of minutes this season, but has emphasised his commitment to the club.
The 37-year-old has started just one league game this season, with Carlo Ancelotti preferring to use his new-look young midfield quartet of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde.
This means that both Modric and Toni Kroos, two legends of both the club and the wider footballing world, have had to settle for the bench.
Speaking to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, Modric claimed that whilst he is not entirely happy about the decisions, he respects Ancelotti’s choices.
““Nobody is happy when they are out of the game,” he stated.
“After all in my career, where I’m not sure I’ve ever been on the bench for three games in a row, I found that feeling especially strange.
“But hey, the coach had decided so for his reasons. I certainly won’t sink or slump because of it.”
How should Real Madrid use Modric this season?
It was clear at the back end of last season that Real Madrid could no longer use the veteran week-in, week-out, with his physicality no longer matching his speed of thought.
However, given his sheer quality at times, and vast experience, Real Madrid could simply save Modric for Champions League nights.
The younger options can continue to grow together in La Liga games, but in midweek European clashes, Modric could be brought in as a fresh option and as an experienced head to help lead the team.
Not many midfielders in the history of the game have accomplished more in the Champions League than Modric, who has won the trophy five times, and perhaps that is where he will be best utilised this season.
It seems likely that this will be his final season in a Real Madrid shirt, and he will go down as one of the best players to have ever featured for Los Blancos.