Real Madrid Exclusive interview with the Croatian in Zadar

The sun of the Adriatic warms up Zadar, the birthplace of Luka Modric, and it's here where the Croatian eulogises on how the team above all individuals is what makes the current Real Madrid side so special.

One of the greatest talents in the history of his country has his roots here, and Modric is enjoying family life before the rigours of pre-season are upon him.

He sat down for the fifth time with MARCA, the only Spanish medium that has interviewed him since he came to the capital.

After almost three hours, he said goodbye recommending a couple of restaurants to dine and offering his help with any unforeseen circumstances.

A gentleman on and off the pitch.

MARCA's newspaper cover

What did this Madrid have different from any other, in order to achieve the double?

"For me, that was the coach's merit. He knew how to make the most of every player, and that helped us a lot to reach the end of the season in top form. We were all at a high level. This was different from years gone by, in which we sometimes got a little tired at the end. Now with the rotation ... it helped Zidane too. Any player that entered did well and helped the team. That was the key to winning the double."

Is it the best team you've been in?

"It's hard to say, but when you see that we've won, then you could say yes. Each player has tremendous quality."

What did you learn this year?

"Nothing special. It only reinforced the idea that the team is the most important of all. Every player, every person around the team, is very important. In the first place, the coach wanted to send that message and we have learned it. The team above all."

Have you watched the final yet?

"Not completely no, just the highlights, a couple of times."

Of the three Champions League wins, what do you remember of each?

"I am left with the character of the team, the spirit, never giving up. When you look at how we won, especially the first two, Lisbon and Milan ... In the first we were almost lost, but we never stopped believing that we could change that situation; Then that character, to be calm in moments like the penalties of San Siro; And in the third, all this and our tremendous quality."

Were you overwhelmed or nervous about not being able to hold the title on the pitch in Cardiff?

"Yes, yes, it was a mess. We could not celebrate normally, with our family, our fans ... I do not know how many people were there on the pitch ... Photographers, cameras ... We were not allowed to celebrate in peace but the important thing was to win, and that's it [laughs]."

When you look back and remember the first year in Madrid ... Did you suffer a lot?

"No, I did not suffer much. I never doubted myself, I knew I would succeed in Madrid, but since I did not have a preseason and I came to a club that from the first day wanted me to be at a high level...the demand was incredible. I knew I was going to suffer a little, that I would not be able to demonstrate what I showed later. But I also enjoyed these moments because when I face difficult things, I can't stop believing in myself. The situation at the beginning made me learn a lot and helped me for the future."

"How do you regenerate the desire and the ambition to keep winning after raising so many titles?

"Very easy. When you win something, once, twice, three times, and you have that feeling ... that pushes you forward again. You want to win more, and more and more. You never tire of winning. We are in a club that always wants to be the best, wants to win everything possible, and the players have the same thought."

So you don't think that this year the team will have a hard time after having won what they did?

"I don't think so, but I can only speak for myself. We will not tire of winning, no. The club does not let you relax, because the demand is tremendous. Before I got to Madrid I knew it. Fans do not leave you either. Things are quickly forgotten. We have to keep winning, seize this moment because it will not last forever. We have a top team and why not continue to accomplish things this year."

Why did you have trouble catching form after the injury?

"I had a knee injury first, and I came back well. In good form, playing well, and when I was better, came the second, the adductor, and it took me a little while to get back to where it was. With the individual work, and with the help of colleagues, staff ... I knew that I would get back to my form."

Did the rotation affect you?

"Maybe it helped me to get in good shape for the final stages. I talked a lot with the coach, the staff, with the physical trainers, to improve my form. I had everyone's confidence."

So Pintus was important this season?

"For me, yes. When you look at how we got to the end of the season, in a top physical state, he sure has merit for this, but all the staff. What we have created there, we are all together, has also helped. Pintus has done a great job."

4-3-3 or 4-4-2?

"For me it is not a question of numbers, the most important thing is how we play as a team. If we are all together, if we fight as a team, attack and defend, it is more important than a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2. We have to be together, if we all do our work and help our teammates, it is very difficult for the opponent to win."

The test: Nicknames and the team song

You said that you did not trust in so much rotation. What did you think when you saw so many changes in the lineups?

"At first I didn't think it was good for the team. When you play and you do not play, you think you're going to lose something. In the end Zidane proved that it is possible and helped us to win all these titles. Now I think it's fine, but it also helped other players because we won games with them as well. Then everyone started talking about team A or B, but we did not look at it like that. We are Real Madrid, a team. Any player who enters it does well. We trust each other."

Would you like to take the 10, as with Croatia?

"If it was two or three years ago, I would say yes, but now I don't have so much preference for that number. I like 19. I do not plan to change it."

Would you leave Madrid by choice? As happened with Ozil and Di Maria, and can happen with James and Morata ...

"Surely it is not an easy decision to leave Madrid. When you leave here, then nothing is the same. Now you're in the best club in the world, that's for sure, and from there you just go down. Everyone will have their reasons o but I don't see it myself. Things in football change fast."

It is not easy to leave or enter. There are three young people, Marcos, Theo and Vallejo. Then there are more important names. Is it too complicated to improve?

"It's difficult. What the club has done in recent years is a good way with the signings [refers to young people]. I would only sign them if they can improve the team enough. It is difficult to find players who fulfill that, to improve us. We have a very good team. The club and coach know what we need, it is their decision. We will accept who they sign and will help them to adapt."

How do you deal with a pre-season that's already so demanding? United, Barcelona, City, two Super Cups ...

"It's not easy, because we know that with Pintus we are going to have a very hard preseason like last year [laughs]. But it is part of our work and we have to use all that as our base for the rest of the season. There are difficult matches from the beginning but it is better. Every player prefers that we play against United or Barcelona ... It is something unique and everyone wants it."

Does this winning cycle have more merit considering that Messi is with Barcelona?

"We are only focused on ourselves. We do not look at other clubs. We want to do things our way, the best we can, and not worry about everyone. It is our thinking and our politics."

When you are on the pitch, do you feel that by wearing the shirt you have more options to win?

"It gives you a lot, the greatness of the Madrid. That shirt and that shield help to win. Sure the other teams have respect but they go against you at 200%, and if you are not at your optimum level, life becomes complicated."

Do you see your dream of retiring in the all-white strip? Until what year do you see yourself playing?

"I have not thought about it yet but if I continue to work like this, and I take care of myself, there are things that I can improve ... Of course I would like to [retire at Real], it is my dream, but let's see what happens. In Madrid the demand is maximum and you have to always be at the top. If you are not, doubts come. If I keep working on myself, on individual issues, I think I have enough years ahead of me at this level. Because I want to be at this level. Where I am now makes me enjoy every day, every training, every game. And I do not want to miss this. I will fight to be here as much as possible. I only have Madrid in my head."

Can you explain what the situation is with regard to your statement at Mamic's trial?

"This is an unpleasant and complicated situation, but I have a clear conscience. Now we have to wait for this to end quickly and nothing more. I can not talk about this issue, it's not nice, it's complicated, it's something that happened many years ago. I want everything finished quickly so that I am able to forget it. Now there are opinions against me from people without really knowing how things are."

The national team?

"I do not have a definite thought. We'll see. Now I want to concentrate on the preseason with Real Madrid, to prepare well."