Solari: “It’s Modric’s year”

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari spoke to the press ahead of the team’s home match against Melilla in the Copa del Rey, a game which should be fairly meaningless after the 0-4 away victory they earned in the first leg. The Argentinian coach talked about Modric’s Ballon D’Or award.

“It’s Modric’s year. The focus has to be on him. He’s had a wonderful year and he’s given everything to Real Madrid and his national team. It comes at a time of maturity in his career. It seems to me that at that age it’s more beautiful because he can truly value it. We’re all very happy with his award,” said Solari.

Los Blancos will possibly rest most of their starters against Melilla but Solari wanted to prove that he is taking the match against Melilla very seriously.

“The first leg was very good because we put in a very good performance with a good attitude and intensity, against a team that play very good football and are top of their group in Segunda B. That division is very underestimated and there are teams that play very good football,” explained the coach.

Solari was also asked about Isco. The midfielder hasn’t been relevant for the coach and it appears that the situation is not going to improve in the short term.

“Players need to give the best of themselves to be available and then do the best possible. Then there are choices and different periods of form. The job of the coach is to try to pick well and avoid mistakes. There are players in football who play well and who do so constantly, which is why they start for 10 or 12 years, but nobody has played forever because of their name,” concluded Solari, suggesting that Isco isn’t doing his best at the moment.