1 month ago
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Luka Modric continuously proving himself to be AC Milan’s leader in the midfield, and he is inspiring the Scudetto dream.
As Tuttosport (via MilanPress) recall this morning, a common thread links 15 of the 16 Scudetti won by Milan between 1950-51 and 2010-11: the presence of a world-class player in midfield, capable of being the metronome and guiding the team through difficult situations.
Reinvented and reinvigorated
Modric arrived at Milan as more of a box-to-box player, but was quickly transformed by Massimiliano Allegri into a regista, a deep-lying playmaker. Despite his age, the coach sensed that the Croatian could reinvent himself in this role, capitalising on his vision and smart management of the ball.
Any doubts about the 40-year-old’s fitness have been refuted by the facts: he’s started in 17 out of 17 games thus far in Serie A, and in 14 of them he has played for the full 90 minutes. This has prompted some discussions about over-use and over-reliance, but for now Modric is looking in top form.
In fact, the Ballon d’Or winner leads the league in attempted and completed passes, in successful long balls and is among the best in key passes. As for his defensive contribution, he has made a remarkable 19 interceptions, making him one of the league’s top ball-winners too.
To restart after a difficult season, the Rossoneri relied on a leader capable of winning and showing the way. The likes of Liedholm, Schiaffino, Rivera, Ancelotti, Albertini and Pirlo did the same before him. When the Rossoneri had a playmaker like that, they often won the league. Can it happen again?
English (US) ·