“I love him at football level” - Leganes manager snubs Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius while choosing ‘favorite’ Real Madrid player
Leganes manager Borja Jimenez has named Luka Modric his favorite Real Madrid player ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Los Blancos will take on the newly promoted LaLiga side at the Estadio Municipal Butarque on Sunday, November 24.
Real Madrid have no shortage of superstars on their books, with Mbappe and Vinicius being the two most popular. However, Leganes manager Borja Jimenez hailed Modric as his favorite for what the Croatian has done for both club and country.
He said, as quoted by Madrid Xtra on X:
"Favorite Real Madrid player? I think Luka Modrić has shown during these years the ability he has to make teams play. He has taken Real Madrid and Croatia to unimaginable heights."
The 39-year-old manager added:
"Obviously Vinicius and Mbappe are very talented players but I choose Modrić, I love him at football level."
Luka Modric has established himself as one of the greatest midfielders of the modern era. He joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth a reported £30 million and has not looked back since.
The Croatian superstar has made 551 appearances across competitions for the La Liga giants, registering 39 goals and 89 assists. He has been a key player behind the club's success, helping Real Madrid win four LaLiga titles and six Champions Leagues among other honors. Modric also helped Croatia finish second and third in the last two FIFA World Cups, respectively.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti slams critics over Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior's recent struggles
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti brushed aside claims that Los Blancos struggling due to Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior's form. The Italian manager insisted that his side are underperforming because of their defensive problems.
Mbappe and Vinicius, two of football's biggest superstars, are yet to thoroughly impress as a unit up front for Los Blancos. Many have questioned whether the two are compatible with each other and even questioned the club's decision to sign Mbappe in the summer.
However, Carlo Ancelotti claimed that Real Madrid have struggled defensively and don't have many issues going forward. He said, as quoted by Madrid Universal:
“I can give an idea of what will happen tomorrow but now is not the time. Although I am looking forward to tomorrow, to see how it goes. Our problem is not offensive, or positioning. It is a defensive one."
The Real Madrid manager added:
“I do not want to take him away from where he makes the difference and Mbappé can play as a striker. Nothing more. Our problem is not offensive."