Real Betis star talks Modric, Ancelotti, Vinicius, Mbappe ahead of Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Diego Llorente is set to experience a particularly significant match today. The central defender, who has established himself as a crucial figure in Real Betis’ squad, will be facing Real Madrid—the club where his football journey began.

Having joined Madrid as a youngster and even making his debut for the first team, this encounter holds sentimental value for him.

The fixture is one he has undoubtedly marked on his calendar, and in an exclusive discussion with MARCA, he reflects on his past at Madrid and touches on key figures in football, such as Isco and Luka Modric.

On Luka Modric

Llorente praised Luka Modric. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Llorente made his debut for Real Madrid in a match against Osasuna, which ended in a 4-2 victory. That game saw him share the pitch with Luka Modric, who was already a standout player at the time.

Now, nearly 12 years later, Modric continues to perform at an elite level, scoring impressive goals, such as the one he netted against Girona last weekend.

Llorente sees Modric as more than just a talented footballer; he considers him a role model for professionals everywhere. The Croatian midfielder’s longevity is a testament to his dedication and work ethic.

“Well, a legend who is also an example for all footballers. The work behind that goal or staying in one of the best teams in the world at his age is basically the work of everyday life.

“Nobody has given him anything and I think he is also an example, he has accepted having less minutes, and he always contributes. It is also a bit like the people who have more experience, young people should look up to this type of player,” he said.

Pellegrini and Ancelotti

Llorente also talked about Carlo Ancelotti. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

During his time at Real Madrid, Llorente also had the opportunity to work under Carlo Ancelotti, a manager he believes shares similarities with Manuel Pellegrini. He considers Ancelotti an ideal coach for a club like Madrid, particularly due to his exceptional man-management skills.

Given the pressure of handling a squad filled with world-class talent, Ancelotti excels at maintaining harmony in the dressing room.

“I think that as far as team manager, as minute manager, these are clubs where there are players who want to play everything.

“But I think he manages the dressing room very well and in a club like Madrid, where there are often more non-sporting issues than sporting ones, he has managed it very well as the manager does here.”

Llorente appreciates the way the Italian tactician balances game time among players while ensuring that every individual remains motivated.

“He also has the respect of all the players, the players go with him and you can see that connection, so well, I think I learned a lot during his time there too and he continues at the highest level because he is a great coach,” he noted.

About the upcoming game

Llorente is aware of the threat. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Although Jude Bellingham will be absent from the game, Llorente will still have to contend with the likes of Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, and potentially Kylian Mbappe.

Given Mbappe’s position on the pitch, Llorente is likely to engage in direct battles with the French forward.

Llorente acknowledges that going one-on-one against such a player in every situation is unrealistic.

“When you’re up against these types of players, you can’t go one-on-one in every play because in the end, they have a talent that is difficult to overcome physically.

“I think you have to rely a bit on your teammates, as I said before, to communicate very well and it’s with help that these teams suffer a bit more.”

Instead, he emphasises the importance of teamwork and communication among defenders and midfielders. He believes that defensive success against elite forwards comes from collective effort rather than individual duels.

Ultimately, Llorente sees communication, defensive cohesion, and a well-structured game plan as essential factors in determining the outcome of this highly anticipated encounter.

“They try to have a lot of mobility so that in the end we have as little help as possible.

“But we also have offensive weapons to hurt them and defensively, I think that the key to the game will be in the communication and the help that we, the defenders, the midfielders and others, provide,” he added.