Luka Modric Return A Boost For Real Madrid But Problems Remain For Now

  • Work-from-home

imama

ùήşţάвĻέ $ώąǥǥ!3
Super Star
Apr 18, 2013
6,630
7,158
513
sharjah
Among the doubts, dropped points and displacement at the top of La Liga came some delight for Real Madrid on Monday afternoon.

Luka Modric was named in Carlo Ancelotti's squad to face Schalke in their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night, four months after the Croatian suffered a thigh injury that took a huge chunk out of his season.

The return to action of the midfield magician will bring a welcome boost to a manager who is enduring his toughest spell since arriving in the Spanish capital. One point from six over the last fortnight has seen Madrid let a four-point lead at La Liga's summit slip to a one-point deficit to a Barcelona side currently firing on all cylinders. The knives are out and the return of Modric is needed.
The responsibility should not weigh too heavily on the shoulders of the former Tottenham man. With star names Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos receiving their share of criticism alongside their coach, Modric is seen as the man who can come back into the fold and fix things. Unfortunately for Madrid, it won't be that simple.

It will take much more than Modric to fix Madrid's current problems. His return will, however, provide a major boost at just the right time.

When the 29-year-old suffered his setback in a Euro 2016 qualifying match for Croatia in Italy, Madrid were riding the crest of a wave. The European champions were enjoying their best form since Ancelotti's arrival and they looked untouchable.

They were convincing in a 3-1 defeat of Barcelona, the Catalans' first league defeat of the campaign, and they dismantled Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield. Modric's last game before this injury was a 5-1 win against Rayo Vallecano and Madrid had the momentum to go on and achieve a Spanish record 22-match winning streak.

The momentum continued despite his absence but it lasted only until Christmas and the performance levels started dropping well before then. Defeats against Valencia and Atletico Madrid knocked the stuffing out of Ancelotti's men and even in the victories against Getafe and Cordoba they were far from convincing. The clock was ticking on Modric's return and the fans were counting down the seconds.

Ancelotti confirmed in Monday's pre-match news conference the midfielder would not start against Schalke but he would get some minutes under his belt. A crucial Clasico clash against Barcelona is less than a fortnight away and Ancelotti wants his midfield maestro fit and available for the big trip to the Camp Nou.

If things are going to plan against Schalke, and in recent weeks that has not been the case, Modric can expect to get around 30 minutes to up his fitness levels and edge further to full match sharpness in the more comfortable-looking Liga clash against Levante on home soil on Sunday night. His introduction will probably be the loudest applause of the night at a Bernabeu that has been more used to jeering than cheering in recent weeks.

The full merits of his return may not be seen on Tuesday night but his run-out will be crucial in ensuring the midfielder is as ready as he possibly can be for the clasico on March 22.

With victory over Schalke on the night, Madrid can equal the 12-game Champions League record for successive home wins and break the record for consecutive victories, both home and away, in the competition with an 11th on the spin. Bayern Munich currently hold the record and although it may mean little in the long-run, it would be a welcome boost for a team that has had little to cheer in recent weeks.

The match will also provide a big moment for Jese Rodriguez. The Las Palmas-born forward suffered a season-ending knee injury at the same stage last season and against the same team. With Madrid coasting 6-1 from the first leg, Ancelotti gave the youngster a rare start but that came to a premature end just eight minutes in with his injury blow.

The Italian may use the 22-year-old from the bench and Jese will look to use it as a springboard for what has been a largely uninspiring return to match action.

With Sergio Ramos -- the man who rescued La Decima with his 93rd-minute equaliser in last season's final against Atletico Madrid -- being saved for a return in the league on Sunday, Modric is the name the fans want to see flash up first.

Injuries have not played the whole part in Madrid's recent struggles but they have undoubtedly caused problems. Just don't expect too much too soon from the Croatian.

Nicholas Rigg writes about Real Madrid for ESPN FC and blogs about La Liga for The Independent. You can follow him on Twitter @nicholasrigg.


 
Top