Luka Modric, the Croatian professional footballer who plays for Spanish side Real Madrid, has argued that other teams around the world, not only in La Liga, are afraid to face Zinedine Zidane’s team.
Image: Luka Modric
Speaking after Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Valencia on Saturday, the Croatian captain said his team has nothing to fear ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash with French Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint-Germain.
“I think everybody respects Real Madrid. I’m sure nobody wants to play against us,” said the 32-year-old playmaker.
“We hope that this result will help us prepare for that tie in a better way,” he added.
Modric boldly stated that “fear doesn’t exist in football, especially for Real Madrid,” adding that Los Blancos is “the only team to win it (La Liga and Champions League) twice in a row.”
“Why should we be afraid?” He questioned reporters.
Coach Zidane suffered huge criticisms after their defeat to Leganes in the Copa del Rey, even as the gap between the champions and rival team Barcelona looks like a chasm.
However, Modric was quick to defend his coach by suggesting that it’s crazy to question the Frenchman after all their accomplishments at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“There is no wisdom in questioning Zidane’s abilities as a coach…I can’t believe how unfaithful the media has become…It’s crazy,” he said.
“We know that sometimes things go well in football and other times they go badly. Questioning the coach should be out of it…Every member of the team is in support of the French coach,” he added in the post-match interview.
Madrid players are expecting a tough game against PSG in their Champions League first knockout round, and many are predicting a win in favor of the Parisian club but the former Tottenham midfielder thinks otherwise.
In his opinion, Madrid has nothing to fear despite their recent slump on La Liga table.
“What has happened in recent matches isn’t a physical issue,” he confirmed, “we are dealing with it as is evident in our current resurgence. We must defend better and cover the gaps more efficiently.”
