Finally we are underway, the UEFA Champions League semi finals second leg is here. Real Madrid will on Wednesday night face the current English Champions Manchester City, in a tie where revenge could be gained, or European domination will be retained. The eyes of the world will be on Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid enters this match with a lot of confidence after defeating the Navarre club Osasuna 2-1 in the Copa Del Rey final last week, adding the 20th Copa Del Rey title to the club’s collection, and also putting up a good performance against the Manchester club. Upon defeating Everton 3-0, the English team is well on their way to winning the Premier League once more. The Manchester team will enter this match with both confidence and a desire of vengeance for their loss in the previous season’s meeting.
Luka Modrić was the player selected to address the press today. The Croatian midfielder has won the UEFA Champions League five times, and is trying to win his sixth this season.
Press Conference.
On his feelings before the match:
“The feelings are very good. We have to enjoy this game as much as possible. What we are achieving is something big and we have to enjoy this moment.”
On the legacy of Modric and this generation:
“I think that all these titles we have won already speaks a lot about us. But we also leave a legacy of effort, of behaviour on a daily basis. But I think what we do in difficult situations is very important. Our titles are very important and make us proud and the way we have done it, too.”
On a possible sixth Champions League final:
“Of course, I remember the video of Zidane talking about the dynasty. We’re thinking about playing in our sixth final, but our main motivation is to play this game in a Real Madrid shirt. We’re going to give everything and during the match we’re sure we’ll give even more than we think. We are close to achieving something historic.”
On what he thinks of Camavinga:
“I think Cama is fine and will train. On his position he has grown a lot and this year he has shown that he can also do very well at left-back. Even if he doesn’t like to play there, he is a guy who does well wherever you put him. His football, his personality on the pitch is very important for us. I’m happy for him because he’s a top player.”
On the feeling of playing in the Champions League with Madrid:
“It’s a great feeling to be in these games with Madrid and we feel very comfortable in this competition. In this type of match we are comfortable and we show quality, because we know we have it. We give our maximum in the Champions League. I think that’s why we play so well in this competition.”
On his opinion on the youngsters:
“There are young players like Rodrygo and Vinicius who have already shown that they can solve these games, but the most important thing is the team. If we are together, if we fight together, one day Vini will stand out, another Karim, another Fede. The most important thing is to fight for our teammates, to maintain the atmosphere we have in the dressing room. The unity we have between the young players and us older ones is very important.”
On the difference between being a star at 37 and being a star at 22:
“I don’t know, honestly, There have always been young stars and there are young players still coming through. There is no difference. These days, maybe they pay more attention to social media, which there wasn’t so much before. Times change.”
On his recent injury:
“I care a lot about my fitness and my health and when I got injured I wanted to do everything I could to play these games. I still remember 2015, when I got injured before the games against Atlético and Juve. I didn’t want it to happen again. I tried to do something different on the advice of friends and I came back sooner than I thought. The important thing is that I feel good. I wanted to be here and here I am.”
On his Conclusions from the first leg: “We knew that this tie was not going to be decided in the first leg. We didn’t start well, but then we had our moment…. We’re doing well and I think we’re 50-50. It will be decided by small details, because we are two great teams with top players.”
Ancelotti says that Madrid is the team that best takes care of the small details:
“You never know what can happen in a match, but we have to be concentrated in all the duels, in the divided balls. These are the details.”
Featured image: (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)