ENGLAND STARS IN EXILE AT CHELSEA AS SARRI MAKES HIS MARK
MONACO: Real Madrid and Croatia star Luka Modric on Thursday (Friday in Manila) received the accolade of UEFA Player of the Year in Monaco, beating his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to the prize.
“I’m very happy to receive this great prize. I have worked hard for this, to get to the highest point possible,” said Modric, who starred in the Real side that won the Champions League for the third year running before also leading Croatia to
“I can say for sure that this has been the best year of my career, collectively and individually, and I am enjoying the moment,” added the 32-year-old, who was announced as the winner of the prize after Thursday’s draw in Monaco for this season’s Champions League group stage,
Modric started out at Dinamo Zagreb and then had four years with Tottenham Hotspur before Real prized him away six years ago.
His success here, after he was named the best player at the World Cup, confirms that he should be among the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or, a prize dominated by Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over the last decade.
Salah was in attendance at the Grimaldi Forum on Thursday, but Ronaldo, now with Juventus, was not there.
“I’m sorry that he couldn’t be here. I am sure there is a reason why he couldn’t come. I would have liked to see him. Hopefully we will see each other soon somewhere else,” said Modric of his old colleague.
Modric has also been linked with a move away from
Real this summer, with Inter Milan said to be keen on him, but he claims to be more than happy in the Spanish capital.
“As I have always said, I am at the best club in the world, where
I want to be. I am not just happy but very happy to be here.”
Real’s achievement in winning yet another Champions League last season was further recognized as Modric also won the UEFA award for the best midfielder of last season. His clubmate Sergio Ramos was named best defender while Real shotstopper Keylor Navas won the best goalkeeper prize. Ronaldo, in his absence, was awarded the prize for best striker chosen by Champions League and Europa League coaches from last season and journalists.
The award “recognizes the best players, irrespective of nationality, playing for a club within the territory of a UEFA
Chelsea has the opportunity to extend their perfect start under new manager Maurizio Sarri on Saturday.
But England boss Gareth Southgate is unlikely to be at Stamford Bridge to see them take on Bournemouth. Sarri inherited four England internationals when he took charge at Stamford Bridge in the closeseason, but the Italian has sent three of them into during Chelsea’s three- match winning run.
Southgate member association during the past season.”
Danish international Pernille Harder, of German club Wolfsburg, won the UEFA women’s player of the year prize. Wolfsburg lost to dominant
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There was also an award for David Beckham, the former Manchester United, Madrid and England star collecting the UEFA President’s Award for his achievements in the game and his work since retiring as a player. on the opening day.
The midfielder played his part in England’s march to the World Cup semifinals after being picked on the back of performances while on a season-long loan at Crystal Palace.
Now, Loftus-Cheek could face the prospect of nothing more nourishing than the occasional game until January at least.
No wonder Southgate bemoaned an ever-diminishing
playing pool, at a time when England under-age squads are enjoying a spell of unprecedented high achievement.
Gary Cahill had made it clear beforehand that he was calling time on his England career following a
The center back, who will be 33 in December, has not featured in any Chelsea match so far and is reportedly considering whether to go on loan to Galatasaray for the rest of the season. - ter, a Premier League winner with Leicester a little over two years ago, has been similarly ignored apart from a half-hour cameo in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City almost a month ago. Ross Barkley’s predicament is even more intriguing.