Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said it is difficult to bench Luka Modric following his match-winning goal in the 1-0 LaLiga win over Sevilla on Sunday.
Modric (38), who returned to the starting XI as a substitute in the 75th minute, scored a brilliant long range effort six minutes later.
The Croatia international has suffered from lack of game time this season, and it is reported that he could look to leave Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season.
“(Modric) deserved it today. He scored a great goal. He contributed a lot when he came on, he brought freshness.
“It’s difficult to leave him on the bench. The way he trains every day, he’s an example for the whole squad,” Ancelotti admitted in his post-match conference.
The veteran has started in eleven league fixtures this campaign. A
“Modric, Kroos, Nacho are all in the same situation. I don’t get into that. The club has time to sort all that out in the next few months. Out of the respect I have for (Modric) I can’t give him advice, he’s very intelligent, he knows perfectly well what he ought to do.”
Ancelotti is spoilt for choice in midfield, with the Los Blancos boasting the finest talents in Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos.
“I went through it in the last year of my career [as a player]. I understand perfectly what Modric must think when he doesn’t play. He might be sad. Everyone thinks it’s the end of his career but he doesn’t. He doesn’t look like a player aged [38],” added Ancelotti.
