Tottenham’s Modric is better than Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo…
by Dexter on June 13th, 2008 113 words | 30 comments…So says Slaven Bilic!
The Croatian coach reckons that little Modric has big skills and is the best player in Europe. Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo, they are all lesser players than Tottenham’s midfielder according to Bilic.
“Luca is already a star even without this tournament.
“I keep saying to him every day that he’s the best player in Europe.”
“But he’s not the only great player on our team, we have world class players and they prove it day in, day out, every day in training and in every match in each part of the pitch.” (Soccerway)
So is Modric really the best there is, or is Bilic getting a little carried away with his 22-year-old?
Tagged Under: cristiano ronaldo, Croatia, Juande Ramos, Kaka, Manchester United, messi, modric, Spurs, tottenham, White Hart Lane
Related Posts:
Smokin’ Spurs striker made to wait for £20million Manchester United move
{ 30 comments read them or add one }
Dom - June 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Ha!
manufan08 - June 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Modric is an exceptional talent. He knows how to keep possession and release the ball with pinpoint accuracy, sort of like deco or scholes. However he does not have that killer instinct in front of goal and ability to leave players in his wake like ronaldo, messi and kaka. Very good player but not as good as the aforementioned, Bilic getting a little
ALEX - June 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Yeah right Slaven
Howard - June 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Love the way the media and writers twist a guys words. He said he is the best in europe , bilic thinks, playing in his position. Doesn’t say anything about better than Ronaldo and all the other amazing players.
Bilic is just installing confidence in his players.
All the same, a great buy for Tottenham and can see him being a link man in the midfield and replacing a much missed Michael Carrick and what he gave us.
Rackny - June 13th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I was impressed with the way he got stuck in against Germany. Not only was his quick passing range quality he was also heading out of his owm penalty area and sliding in with tackles.
I think we may well have a little gem there. I hope he settles down well.
Greekos - June 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Maybe Bilic is getting a little carried away but if thats how he motivates his players then fair play. Modric is definately one of the top players in Europe for his positions. He is on par with Fabregas or Scholes which are similar type players. Maybe with time he could get even better than these players.
Storts - June 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
You mean real madrids ronaldo!!
aNaKiN99 - June 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
He looks to be a very exciting young talent… but we cant judge him by a couple of performances… especially if we are talking about ronaldo and kaka who both have won pfa player of the year awards and have been exceptional… lets wait and see how he performs with tottenham… only then can we say if he is better than kaka and ronaldo…
Teshale - June 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I don’t Modric is better than Ronaldo,even if Ronaldo is bad man with not understanding UTD love and respect to him;,with his current performance.But i hope Modric will come to the performance of Ronaldo in the league.
Rackny - June 13th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Oh don’t get me wrong Ronaldo and Kaka are proven. I think Modric looks the part but you can’t compare him to those players.
I just think that if he settles in the Prem he might well be the execptional midfield talent we need.
Bilal - June 13th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
lets not get carried away the boy did good but it really remains to be seen if Modric can be spoken about in the same breath as such proven talent messi who in my opinion is the best player in the world right now ! however Having said that the future looks very bright @ the lane and not so rose coloured for that other lot as the whole team are looking the bale out (hahaha)
Paul A - June 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I agree wit most comments on here, but i am positive Bilic was refering to his position not ” the best player in Europe” although i hope as a spurs fan he does become that good.The main thing here though from a Tottenham point of view is that he takes up a position where we have had a massive gap since Carrick left which in effect Zokora will go eventually as he wont get much football as i can see the centre midfield with JJ and Modril in those two positions with Dos Santos, keane and one other up front in a three as berbatov will leave soon
yiddo - June 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
storts don’t b thick that ronaldo is now at Milan.
Steve - June 13th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Modric is fantastic but I wouldnt go that far! Bilic has a more than biased view of Modric. When Modric has won world player of the year, scored 40 odd goals in one season and got a Premier League and Champions League winners medal, then we’l see. until then I think i’d take Ronaldo over him at the Lane
Anonymous - June 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
cracking little player, still reckon he needs to put on a stone in weight to be able to compete in the premier league for a full season… and yes i know he was getting stuck in against germany, but the PL is a whole different brand of vodka than international football.
still, spurs have got themselves a gem, someone who genuinly looks like he can control a game.
as regards to bilic, i think he is a great coach. he builds the confidence in his players and in return he has got them running through brick walls for him. i know the croats are very passionate and nationalistic, and it shows with their work ethic for the national side
jj - June 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Very good player is Modric but he isnt as good as Ronaldo. There two different style players anyway! Being a spurs fan i cant wait to see him play for us!
Sean - June 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Bilic specifically said (either in this interview or one very close in time) that Modric was the best IN Europe (i.e. not the World) at the position EXCLUDING Kaka.
Simple, really.
It is always difficult comparing players. On of the more obvious comparisons is with Scoles, but even that falls down in certain areas. Scholes, as was pointed-out above, hs a much better shot (and is, therefore, far more of a goal threat), I would put their passing and work rate on a par, but Modric has more pace than Scholes, and can tackle (whereas Scholes can’t tackle for toffee and is lucky to finish approx. a third of the games he starts).
And, of course, he isn’t proven in the way that the others mentioned are!
Any attempt to compare him with Ronaldo, or suggets that that is what Bilic was doing in fatuous – not least because they play in totally different positions and their games are so totally different.
Besides, yeah, I think it is paert of his motivational technique.
Still, looks like a great buy.
Yid - June 13th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Great player but not quite on par with ronaldo, messi or kaka. I hope he does well this season in the prem! I hope he doesnt turn out to be like rosicky – alot of hype but hasn’t quite cut it!
Jazzy - June 13th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I’m pretty sure he meant best european player – neith Messi or Kaka are european….So yes he reckons he’s better than Ronaldo, but not Kaka…..(He has also been quoted as saying Modic is 2nd best in the world)….
Steve - June 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
haha i kinda hope hes not as good as them. how long u think he’ll stay if he is? we’ll have bids left right and centre from Madrid, Barca, Chelsea, United, Milan, Inter… be like Berbatov all over again!
Scorpion - June 13th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Excellent player but please let’s keep our heads on straight. Better than the best player in the world? I think not.
Scorpion - June 13th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Steve: you’re an idiot. Maybe we should just sell you to the highest bidder. Keep the glass half full mate!!
Mario - June 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Don’t be stupid Modric is not in Ronaldo league.
J.J. - June 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Modric is a good player, but is no where near the skill set that Ronaldo has. Ronaldo led the league in scoring, won titles… what has modric done?
Rob - June 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
As a spurs fan I would disagree with Bilic, so far. But i do accept that there are different style of plays. Modric is not about fancy tricks like Ronaldo, he is more about team work, passing, vision, controlling the game.
Ronaldo can only control games against lesser teams, when he and man utd are up against big name teams, ronaldo is often quiet most of the game. Not to say he does not score, or have no impact, but he does not single handily control the game, like modric does.
Unwired. - June 14th, 2008 at 2:31 am
How can you judge Modric properly. You’ve probably only seen him in 3 big games. I doubt you watch the Croatian national league. Youtube doesn’t count either. He’ll prove himself next season with spurs.
FUGAYZI - June 14th, 2008 at 11:04 am
i am an Arsenal fan and i would like to congrats u yet once more on this shrewd investment. not at 16.5m i hear many say but quality has its price. how can you compare ronaldo to modric! the fact is ronaldo cant do what modric does and vice versa. i said it first and i think it is fare to say he is the new Gascoyne!
PAUL - June 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
WELL SAID SLAVEN. A QUALITY PLAYER AS GERMANY FOUND OUT. THE HARD WAY!!!!!!!
PAUL - June 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
could never be better than ronaldo the person that wrote that needs to be put in football jail because he or she no football sence
Yidarmy! - June 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Modric looked pretty good, i didnt catch the whole game, its nice to see him competing with some of the best midfielders in the world, still unsure of if he will be able to command games against your fabregas’ of the world. I wouldnt get carried away, prem leagues another kettle of fish.
COYS!