"We were convinced we'd keep on winning without Cristiano"

Luka Modric is in Croatia after winning La Liga with Real Madrid; a trophy which has made very happy. Before the Champions League second leg against Man City, the midfielder talked about the season to 'Sportske Novosti'. 

"I'm full of happiness and satisfaction for my second league title. I've already won 16 trophies for Real Madrid, four Champions Leagues, but this title made me especially happy. We should definitely have more domestic titles because some seasons we've been sloppy. But anyway, despite what has happened, you have to enjoy the present and what comes afterwards," he said. 

What was the key to winning the league?: "We had the continuity of good play throughout the year and we did very well at the back end after a long break. A run of 10 consecutive wins and then a draw speaks a lot about this Real Madrid side. We also won the Spanish Super Cup in January and we are still in the Champions League."

The back end of the campaign turned things around for Real Madrid. Asked if he was surprised, Modric was clear: "Honestly, no. We we were in lockdown, we were all training. I was in contact with some of my teammates and I noted that they were all working with extra motivation. I suppose that was because of the situation. We wanted football. When we finally trained together again, I felt an even stronger connection with the other players. It was obvious this would go well."

It seemed like things would go pear shaped after Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, but these players have also been competitive. "We don't need to discuss how important Cristiano was for Real Madrid, but I must say that we aren't worried that he isn't there. We were convinced we would keep on winning without him because despite his quality, the team is above everything else."

"No rotten apples in the dressing room"

ModrIc on Zidane: "He has confirmed his class, not only in football because he fantastic. ZIdane once again showed he is a great person. He created a great atmosphere in and around the team. He makes you calm and he gets close to the players," he said. 

"There are always those who don't play as ofte as they'd like and they aren't happy, but that's normal. But the coach has made everyone feel part of the team. They are all good guys in the dressing room, nobody causes problems, there are no 'rotten apples'."

Differences between Zidane's first and second spell: "In the second one, Zidane seems even better than before. He brought something new in terms of training and tactics. We have taken a step forward when it comes to defending. That was very good for us in these 11 games after the break."

Despite everything, Modric does not understand the criticism: "When a coach wins so many titles, I find it funny people can doubt him. Zidane is one of the best coaches in Real Madrid history and he has plenty of competition. In my opinion, he's one of the best coaches in the world."

Ramos, Benzema, Hazard

On Ramos: "What can I say? My brother Sergio is a genius! We've spenty eight brilliant years together, we spend time with each others families, we go on holiday together. Ramos is a quality 34 year-old footballer and you see how hungry he is for success. He's a leader and the best defender in the world."

Hazard: "Eden is a great player! I loved watching him at Chelsea, Really since he arrived, he hasn't been lucky with injuries. It was obvious how keen he was to play and he can do extraordinary things. I only told him to be patient. He has so much quality, but he needs to be fit. If he's ready for City brilliant, if not then he will be for the start of the season in September."

Benzema: "I'm happy for Benzemma, now everyone knows what we've known for a long time. He's a great striker and it's a pleasure to play with him. He has great understanding of the game, movement and other things. He's done a lot for the team and I'm glad people are recognising that.

Modric's future

On his future: "Would I like to retire at the Bernabeu? Why not? It depends on what the club say. Real Madird is my home, but Real Madrid decide what's best for the club. I know midfielders rarely stay here past 35. If Real Madrid say I'm not the most suitable man for the club, I'll move on."

"Nothing would change what I think of the club although I hope to stay here. I'll fight on the field of play to deserve to stay. The only thing that's certai is that I'll be at Madrid until June 2021, the end of my contract."

"I still haven't spoken about my future with the club and there's no rush. When the time comes to speak about that, we will do and we decide what to do without any stress or worries. Now I'm just focussing on Real Madrid and then on the Euros," he concluded.