Luka defends Bale ahead of Ajax tie

Madrid: Ahead of Ajax’s visit to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric warned that the club shouldn’t be written off after a poor season, and also leapt to the defence of Gareth Bale.
Los Blancos hold a 2-1 first leg advantage in their Round of 16 tie though will be without captain Sergio Ramos who is suspended after picking up a booking in Amsterdam.
“Sometimes a player comes into a case of his career, in which he doesn’t feel at his best,” Modric told the press. “Everything passes though.
“It happened to me in the past. I see him being happy and he has the desire [to do well]. We can’t forget what he has done for the club, as these things can be easy to forget.
“He wants to work, and he wants to be the same Gareth he has always been. Gareth has a lot to give to the team, and all he has to do is work, work, work.”
Real Madrid have won the last three editions of the UEFA Champions League, and it is their only realistic chance of silverware this season as well, further increasing its importance for Los Blancos.
“For us, a Champions League match is always very important, especially tomorrow against a very good, young and ambitious team,” Modric went on.
“This game is key for this season, we want to be in the quarter-finals, it will not be easy, but we are prepared and we are going to play a great game. Qualifying is very important for us.
“Ajax aren’t going to change much, they have nothing to lose, and that is why it is a very dangerous match. We have to be alert, as it will be a very complicated 90 minutes,” the Spanish MARCA newspaper reported.