"I don't know how to explain this", boss Ancelotti's strange answer about Modric

Real Madrid will play this Tuesday their second match in the Champions League 2023/24. In the debut they beat Union Berlin and so they have 3 points in the standings in group C, just like their next opponents, Napoli. The Italian team beat Sporting Braga 2-1 and started their participation in the tournament in a good way. Now Los Merengues will go to the Diego Armando Maradona stadium to try to get their second consecutive victory in the most important tournament in Europe.

As usual the day before each match, coach Carlo Ancelotti held a press conference and answered questions from journalists about his team's performance, the analysis of the upcoming opponents and the situation of some of the squad's players.

In particular, he was asked about Luka Modric. The Croatian midfielder was a key player for Real Madrid until the summer, but in this new season his participation in the team decreased considerably. About him, the manager said: "It's quite surprising that he doesn't have the same role as last year. In these last two games he hasn't played because the competition in midfield is very high and someone can be left on the bench. We have no problems. I respect him as a player and a person, but sometimes I have to make decisions that cost a lot".

Then he added: "There is nothing new. I don't know how to explain it. It's a technical decision that has happened in these two games and that can change. It can happen to anyone. There are seven (midfielders) and only four play, because when I play five you criticize me too".

It will be a difficult match

When asked about Napoli, Ancelotti noted: “They have very good strikers who have come out in the last year. They have different characteristics and are doing very well. Kvara is very good one-on-one... and Osimhen is powerful, he moves a lot and is very dangerous.”