- Title: Modric ready to face Leganes
- Date: 5th November 2016
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING AT VALDEBEBAS REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE TALKING TO ASSISTANT PLAYMAKER LUKA MODRIC TRAINING FORWARD GARETH BALE AT SESSION FORWARD CRISTIANO RONALDO AND PLAYMAKER JAMES RODRIGUEZ AT SESSION GOALKEEPER KEYLOR NAVAS AT SESSION JAMES RUNNING AND JOINING THE REST OF THE GROUP MIDFIELDER TONI KROOS AT SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING MODRIC AT SESSION ZIDANE AT SESSION PLAYERS TRAINING LEFT BACK MARCELO TRAINING BALE TRAINING PLAYERS AT SESSION ZIDANE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE ON LUKA MODRIC: "He is in the squad and the idea is to give him some minutes. We will see tomorrow. The important thing is that he is ok, that he totally recovered." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE ON BENZEMA: "He is not available for tomorrow. After the match he noticed some discomfort on the hamstring. We don´t exactly what he has but we will find out." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "Honestly I´m not thinking about this trophy. On the other hand it is an honour to be on that list and be considered by FIFA one of the top 10 coaches. That means that we are doing a good job. But I have to keep proving many things. Obviously when we have a bad game everybody criticises us. Good words won't change me." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 20th November 2016 13:33
- Keywords: Soccer Zidane Benzema Modric La Liga
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015762WQN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Real Madrid's influential playmaker Luka Modric is recovered and will be in the squad to face Leganes, coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday (November 5).
The Croatian player sustained a blow to his left knee during a league match against Espanyol last September.
He played against Las Palmas and Borussia Dortmund after the incident but the Croatian did not feel comfortable with his knee and decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery.
Zidane said Modric has finished the recuperation programme and is ready to face Leganes on Sunday (November 6).
"He is in the squad and the idea is to give him some minutes. We will see tomorrow. The important thing is that he is ok, that he totally recovered," he said.
On the other hand, Kaeim Benzema was ruled out due to discomfort in his hamstring.
"He is not available for tomorrow. After the match he noticed some discomfort on the hamstring. We don´t exactly what he has but we will find out," Zidane said.
La Liga leaders Real want to put their chaotic 3-3 draw at Legia Warsaw behind and their home game against lowly Leganes could be a good opportunity to polish their image.
Zidane has been included in the FIFA top-10 coach of the year shortlist but although he was flattered the Frenchman said good words will not change him.
"Honestly I´m not thinking about this trophy. On the other hand it is an honour to be on that list and be considered by FIFA one of the top 10 coaches. That means that we are doing a good job. But I have to keep proving many things. Obviously when we have a bad game everybody criticises us. Good words won't change me," he said.
Real have conceded seven goals in four Champions League games and have now gone 10 games without a clean sheet in all competitions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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