Modric vows to improve for Real

Posted Saturday, February 09, 2013 by footybunker.com

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric admitted he has not performed up to expectations for the club this season but declared that he would work hard to improve himself.

Modric joined Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur last summer in a high-profile £33 million move but has thus far endured a disappointing season, turning in several substandard displays on the pitch and failing to establish himself as a first-team regular in the squad.

Whilst warmly welcomed by fans when he first arrived, Modric has lost the support of the Real faithful and was recently voted as the worst signing of this La Liga season in a poll conducted by Spanish newspaper Marca.

And Modric agrees that he has not yet been able to replicate the form he showed for Spurs which made him one of the most highly-sought after midfielders in the world.

"I am not completely happy with my performances," Modric was quoted as saying by ESPN.

"In some games I have shown my quality and why I am here at Madrid, in other games I have not."

But Modric explained that a key reason for his poor form was the lack of proper pre-season preparations with Real due to the protracted nature of his transfer in the summer.

"I did not take part in the pre-season with the team and spent a long time waiting to see whether I would join Madrid," Modric added.

"That has had an effect. Also, the team is not playing as well as last season, which makes things more complicated for me.

"But the coach and my team-mates have been patient with me and very supportive.

"I am confident in my ability. I am sure that the club and the fans will be happy with me in the end."

Real have been woeful this season as well; the defending La Liga champions have only managed to amass 43 points from 22 games and they currently trail league leaders Barcelona by a massive 16 points.

With Real set to go up against a rejuvenated Sevilla side at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, Modric knows that his side cannot afford any more slip-ups and warned his side against taking Los Rojiblancos lightly.

"Sevilla are a very good team and since the new coach arrived they have played much better," Modric explained.

"We have a lot of respect for them. Since I came to Real I have noticed many teams make a huge effort against us.

"If we are not 100% focused we will have problems. I expect a good game."

While many have written off Real's season as a washout due to their poor league form, Modric insisted that Los Blancos still had much to play for; Real are still in with a shout for the Copa del Rey and can still win the Champions League but will first have to navigate past Manchester United in the last-16.

"The game against Manchester United and then the Copa del Rey semi-final return will determine our season," Modric declared.

"If we win those two games we can have a successful year."

Modric has made 18 La Liga appearances for Real this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the process.