Modric: "I want to deserve my renewal, not continue because of my history at Real Madrid"

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder, Luka Modric, knows that "a very important and very tough game" awaits them this Tuesday against Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, a clash that reaches a better level after a downturn after the World Cup and without thinking about a renewal with the club that he wants to "deserve" and that is not "given away".

"A very important, very tough game awaits us, against a very good opponent, in a historic stadium, with tremendous fans and a lot of pressure. We will have to play a great game to win or to have a positive result for the return leg at home "So we have to be at our best level, be together as a team and help each other. We've already played here and we've done well, I hope we can repeat it," Modric said at a press conference on Monday.

The international recognized that it would be "wonderful" to be able to win his sixth Champions League, but that is something that he still sees as far away. "We go game by game as always and hopefully we can repeat it, we are prepared for everything that awaits us for the end of the season," he stressed.

On a personal level, he sees himself "improving" and confessed that after the World Cup in Qatar he made a mistake for starting "to play immediately instead of training and doing a specific program." "But when the coach asks you to play, you want to and you think you can. The World Cup affected a bit, but I'm getting back to my level, I'm feeling very good and I hope to continue like this until the end of the season," she wished.

In this sense, a large part of his appearance before the media focused on his renewal. "I can't say anything because I haven't spoken to the club yet, it's the same as last year. At this point I haven't spoken to the club, I'm very calm and I want to continue here, but I want to deserve it, not as a gift, because no one has given me never given anything away, nor continue through my story here," he stressed.

"Nothing can change or break my relationship with Real Madrid, it is the club of my life no matter what happens. I have to give my all to deserve to continue, the season is very long, there are many challenges ahead and now I am completely focused on do well and return to my level", added the one from Zadar.

Modric made it clear that the possible signing of English Jude Bellingham is something "apart" and that "it has nothing to do" with his decision, while he assured that it does not bother him that it is said that the Madrid midfield is in a transition that affects his figure and that of Toni Kroos.

"I've been here for almost eleven years and I know that the demand is maximum and there are always many things that are said from outside because it is the best club in the world. Before the World Cup, Toni and I did very well together and a month and a half later it seems that no. We carry a lot together and we have already lost and won a lot together. We have to continue giving everything and doing it well", settled.

In any case, the Croatian is clear that the youngsters are "doing very well" and that they have "a very good future ahead of them." "It will depend on them what they do and achieve here, they must continue working and learning. They are not at Real Madrid by chance, the club has invested in them because they are very good," he warned about players like Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde or Ceballos.

Asked about his future with his team, he insisted that his "plan" is to continue playing with Croatia "until the 'Final Four' of the League of Nations." "After that I have not thought about it. Real Madrid has never demanded anything of me or that I resign from the national team, it is not their style. My time with the national team never affected my performance," he pointed out.

On the other hand, he assured that the dressing room is with Vinicius Jr "giving him support" at the moment that he is living in the fields. "I am against any type of racist insult and I think that the authorities must act in a stronger way. He must focus on his game and do what he is doing and perform well. He has our full support", he sentenced.