Champions League returns Tuesday with only one Croatian starter available to play in the Round of 16. Luka Modrić and Real Madrid will be favorites to progress against German side RB Leipzig. Manchester City are expected to trample Danish champs FC Copenhagen. Both 1st legs will kick off at 3PM (ET).
The question is: how much playing time (if any) will this trio of Vatreni receive over the next month?
With his eventual exit from Real Madrid looming, Luka Modrić has been playing second fiddle for Los Blancos in 2024; coming off the bench in the majority of their games. However, how will Ancelotti shift around his Real Madrid offense over the next 2-3 weeks with Jude Bellingham out with an ankle sprain? This could be a great spot for Modrić to get some ‘1st team mojo’ back, but he will need to get the approval from his Italian manager first. Bellingham’s injury will open up a spot in the RM offense alongside Kroos, Valverde and Camavinga; who all had stellar games Saturday in a 4-0 victory over 2nd place Girona. So who, if anyone, sits for Modrić in that trio?
A similar story is being told at Man City with Modrić’s best buddy, Mateo Kovačić. Kova was not part of City’s squad in their 2-0 win over Everton this weekend and has not travelled wit the team to Denmark for Tuesday’s Champions League clash, ManchesterEveningNews reports. There have been no concrete reports saying Kova has an injury so the lack of news is a bit odd. Is there trouble in paradise with KDB returning to the City midfield and Kovačić having a sub-par season thus far? We will have a better picture over the next two weeks.
Joško Gvardiol might miss the Copenhagen as well. He was rested at the weekend but did not attend City’s last training before hopping on a plane to Copenhagen. By the lack of news, it sounds like a minor knock at best. Don’t expect either Croatian to feature for City this week.
https://x.com/SamLee/status/1757531034038534352?s=20
Looks like Gvardiol will be out a few weeks with an ankle issue.
English press reporting that both Kova and Gvardiol missed the last training session before the team left to Copenhagen. They are suggesting both have (minor) injuries……but it is still unclear.
A little more information here re Gvardiol:
https://www.footballfancast.com/man-city-injury-news-josko-gvardiol-injured-copenhagen-champions-league/
Kova with some sand in his v@#/ŋA?
dosadan
Are you Kova’s jock sniffer?
I’m not the one who’s obsessed with him.
Well said, Eric. Utter trite.
I didn’t post anything for a couple of weeks. So that excludes obsession. If you were so enlightened you never would have responded to my comment champ. It’s not my fault that you always feel the need to speak up for the Jug. You do realise that for a fire to burn it needs oxygen.
Your right, I should have ignored you…but your just so fucken annoying, “champ”
Well said. Just a minor correction it’s not “but your so fucken annoying”, it’s you’re or you are so fucking annoying.
Correction? Um, your comma is not where it’s supposed to be, clown.
Oh so my comma is worse than the your? Regardless of my less than stellar punction almost all normal people can follow what I said without much difficulty. I’m a clown so does that make you the troll under the bridge?
Jebiga…I was looking forward to the CL games today, but none of our guys are starting. I’m sure Luka will make a cameo in the 70th minute, but I was hoping he would start ahead of Kroos. Hopefully Kova and Gvardiol will be OK soon. I haven’t heard any injury reports about either one.
Not sure that Spurs ever want to come back to Croatia. The last time they were here, Orsic scored a hatty and it basically cost “The Pompous One” his job.
Correct.
Re: Luka Vuskovic / Tottenham / Hadjuk deal
See details re: Lucas Bergvall (18 y.o.) signed by Spurs in Jan for similar price to Luka
https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/tottenhams-lucas-bergvall-deal-unwrapped-28622011
Wonder if Hadjuk was able to negotiate the same i.e. “highest possible” sell-on clause, future friendly b/w Spurs and Tottenham in Split, etc etc
KOVAAAAA! ?