Legendary Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, has explained why the club had a different record in the UEFA Champions League to their domestic record.
During his time at Real Madrid, Luka Modric enjoyed a very successful period, both individually and domestically.
In 2018, he became the first player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon D'or for over a decade, and won six UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and two Copa del Reys (amongst others).
Now, considering the Champions League is seen as the peak of club football, and football in general, it surprises people that the club seem to win that competition more than domestic trophies.
Well, Modric himself has tried to explain why he thinks that was the case, when (via MadridXtra), speaking to Spanish outlet Diario AS earlier on this week: "I think it's because we weren't as focused on the day-to-day.
We thought there was time to fix things [in the league], whereas in the Champions League we knew we couldn't afford to slip up. We did what we did in the Champions League because we knew that if you failed, you were going home.
In La Liga, we always thought we could recover the points, but Barca was very strong and wouldn't let you. That's why I think we won fewer La Liga titles than Champions Leagues during that period, but I wouldn't change a thing."
Fair play, very honest words and balanced as always from Modric. Hard to disagree, it feels like Real Madrid are the club for the big occasion. They enjoy the challenge, the adversity, the suffering.
Even though last season was not a successful one in the Champions League, a good example is how the team were able to beat Manchester City twice, yet failed to beat Girona, and lost to the likes of Mallorca, Getafe and Osasuna, whilst drawing to the likes of Real Betis, Elche and Rayo Vallecano.
But, as Modric said himself, you wouldn't want to change anything. Those nights in Europe remain priceless. You would imagine that was a big factor in the reappointment of Jose Mourinho, with the 63-year old still seen as someone more than capable of winning the big knockout ties, as he consistently did with AS Roma - albeit in the Europa and Conference League.
Good to get this sort of insight from such a legend, who turns 41 next week. Still going at the very top level, earlier this week he was named in the Serie A team of the season for last year. Just like a fine wine.
