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Antonio Pintus has insisted that he is not surprised that Luka Modric is still playing so well at 40, and shed light on some of his ‘secrets’.
Few know Luka Modric as well as Pintus. Real Madrid’s current performance manager worked with the Croatian in two difference stints, from 2016 to 2019 and then from 2021 to last June. First, as fitness coach for Zinedine Zidane and then for Carlo Ancelotti.
Under both coaches, Modric was a regular starter and played a key role in the four Champions League triumphs in Madrid while Pintus was there (in addition to the first in 1995-96 at Juventus under Lippi). He is currently the ‘Performance Manager’ for Los Blancos.
Last season, the Croatian made 63 appearances for Real Madrid, including playing in the Club World Cup until July. Pintus has never had any doubts about his fitness, and now they’ll have vanished even from the minds of those who considered Luka a great signing but with limited playing time.
The coach gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he spoke a bit about why Modric is such an example and how he has managed to obtain such longevity, amid talk of a personal coach, a seafood-heavy diet and other tricks.
You know Modric well and worked with him in Madrid. Can you tell us what his ‘secret’ is? How does he manage to be so fit at 40?
“I don’t think there’s a real secret, but rather a combination of factors. Luka has an extraordinary level of professionalism: he takes great care of his training, nutrition, recovery, and above all, he has a mentality that pushes him to never settle. He’s a rare example of sporting longevity, the result of daily dedication.”
Many people think his secret is his explosive and resilient legs, certainly not those of a 40-year-old. What kind of training did you do with you at Real Madrid?
“He’s always done a comprehensive workout with us, balancing strength, endurance, and prevention. His explosiveness is natural, but also the result of consistent and focused training over time.”
At Madrid he also had the help of a personal athletic trainer, the Croatian kinesiologist Vlatko Vucetic…
“It’s not up to me to comment on the collaboration with external professionals. I can only say that Luka pays great attention to every detail and always strives for the best for himself.”
So at Real Madrid, like now at Milan, you paid particular attention to nutrition, sleep and recovery through cryotherapy?
“At Madrid, as in all big clubs, there are top-notch tools and staff to manage nutrition, sleep, and recovery. Luka was always very scrupulous and intelligently used everything that could help him stay at his best.”
Many say his real secret is his mentality, particularly his desire to always work, his willingness to work hard and his desire to win. Do you agree?
“I agree. The difference between a great champion and a world class player often lies in mentality. Modric has a desire to work, a predisposition to fatigue, and a never-ending hunger for victory. These, even more than his physicality, are the driving force behind his longevity.”
Are you surprised by the great performances Modric has had in Italy since his arrival?
“I’m not surprised because anyone who knows Luka knows how serious he is and how hard he works to be ready for every challenge. He’s shown everywhere that he can adapt and be decisive. So he was bound to have a major impact in Italy too.”
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