Luka Modrić

[serghei]

Xavi and Iniesta were the better peak players but Modric is better in longetivity.

Apparently, this argument is not true. Xavi was starting for Barca vs Real Madrid and playing big CL games since a very young age. He was a prodigy. Modric went to a big team in the real football at nearly 26.

He simply peaked way later.

 

[Blanco]

He's a Barca fan should have come here it isn't fair.

But Iniesta was Real Madrid fan, there is video too.

 

[iniestaGOAT]

Modric is a tier below xavi and iniesta

 

[serghei]

So the correct way would be to say that Modric is a better veteran than Xavi. While Xavi was a better youngster. Their mileage has Xavi in front by almost 80 games.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

Apparently, this argument is not true. Xavi was starting for Barca vs Real Madrid and playing big CL games since a very young age. He was a prodigy. Modric went to a big team in the real football at nearly 26.

He simply peaked way later.

oh yeah could be also right, had longetivity in head as modric still palys well in his thirties

 

[serghei]

Modric is a tier below xavi and iniesta

I'd say he's closer to Pirlo than Xavi.

 

[mc_lovin]

Xavi and Iniesta were the better peak players but Modric is better in longetivity.

Eh.

Someone else made a good point: Xavi played 8k minutes more in top football. And won significantly more. Not sure what PSGs deal was either, they put zero pressure on Madrid. Neither did Madrid on PSG for 150 minutes though.

 

[serghei]

oh yeah could be also right, had longetivity in head as modric still palys well in his thirties

Same here, though because he's older he has more longevity, but mileage is what counts more. Someone who has his first breakthrough at 28 is expected to play better at 37 for example, than someone who's been at it since 18 years of age.

For example, at this rate, I don't expect Pedri and Gavi to make very good 35 year olders.

 

[mc_lovin]

I stick by it... this is Madrids "6-1". They obviously lack the quality to win the CL, but it gets masked by an atrocious PSG team. They will be found out next round unless they get a lucky draw.

 

[serghei]

Some senior members on redcafe are on the money with this comparison. CM is about controlling and passing mainly, and making the opponent play your game. Xavi did that a clearly higher level than Modric.

This comparison is like saying a forward is better than another because he was more complete and did more defensive work. Positions on the field have priority tasks and secondary tasks. The priority task of a forward is to score goals. The priority of someone like Xavi is to dominate the midfield, control the game, protect the defense, and make his team create more chances than the opponent.

No one did the key role of a CM better than Xavi. Some did secondary aspects better, but not because Xavi was bad at them, but because he was way too good at what he did best to use him in any other way.

You don't ask Pavarotti to sing you hip hop so he can prove he's versatile do you?

 

[Messi983]

What?

He misspeled Riqui Puig.

 

[Morten]

I stick by it... this is Madrids "6-1". They obviously lack the quality to win the CL, but it gets masked by an atrocious PSG team. They will be found out next round unless they get a lucky draw.

They capitulated in 17/18 as well, they played well but we got a goal back and won, then they just gave up in the return leg, no fight or energy.

 

[El Gato]

I stick by it... this is Madrids "6-1". They obviously lack the quality to win the CL, but it gets masked by an atrocious PSG team. They will be found out next round unless they get a lucky draw.

I agree

Depending who we get next could be the Juve 0-3

People fawning over Ancelotti not losing big games thus far is pretty much EV having not lost a match until Roma time.
This is just a very fortunate and very PSG-esque thing to witness. But we are what we have been for months and its up to Carlo to act on what he saw yesterday. If continues to stick to CKM, we're just delaying inevitable

 

[KingLeo10]

Nobody, home or away, CL, Euro, or WC final, won the CM battle versus Xavi for 4 years from 2008-2012.

Modric is amazing, an all time great and an easy top 5 CM ever, but he's not Xavi.

Xavi (and Iniesta) were winning big prizes (the kind any player would consider themselves lucky to just win 1) for 5 summers straight

08 Euro
09 CL
10 WC
11 CL
12 Euro

Too dominant, too flawless at his peak.

Serghei's right. We had near prime versions of Iniesta and Busquets (especially) in the MSN treble and we definitely didn't play the same way or have the same overwhelming superiority (we did on the scoreline because MSN was nuclear that season but not in gameplay). Even an ancient Xavi coming off the bench to close games out was a big weapon that season.

 

[olivis]

People saying he is Xavi/Matthaus level.

No way. He has good longevity but his peak was never as high.