Luka Modric big interview

[grandgramparabbi]

Allright, people, I believe it is time for the Croatians on this forum to start throwing their weight around. In the spirit of this new-found agility I have taken it upon myself to translate today's Luka Modric Big Interview from Sportske Novosti. You could see bits of this on Sky sports but poorly translated...

Sportske Novosti, in English Sports News (no end to the imagination of Croatians, really) are the only daily newspaper specialized in sport in Croatia. As such, they are not at all bad, their General Manager is one Zvonimir Boban - ring a bell?

Luka has a big, centerfold interview with some things that may interest my co-yids and lovely yidettes.
As follows:

We reach Luka Modrić on Monday, relaxing in a spa.
- It is an ordinary relaxation day after a game, hot and cold pools, massage, sauna.

His voice betrays a nirvana-like state of relaxation, somewhat different than after first three matches of the previous season.
-Everything is perfect at the moment, no complaints. I believe the key is that the team remained together, we have a year of experience and playing together under our belts. Redknapp sorted us out beautifully. The first victory over Liverpool was very important, it lifted our spirits and pointed us in the right direction. It was the direct opposite of last year's Middlesborough defeat, which started the nightmare.

Has Redknapp made any drastic tactical changes?
-We are doing much more tactical work than with Ramos, and are much more compact. The manager wants us to help each other and especially to attack the other team high in their own half and disable the flow of their game. In offense we have complete freedom.

Interesting. Does this mean your team is so talented they don't need any offensive patterns?
-We have some moves worked out but Redknapp lets us create our own offense because he believes the best solutions come to players on the field. In the West Ham game we were also very lucky. We were a bit tired after three games in a week but West Ham had a high tempo and we had to match them.

You destroyed Liverpool, does this presage a new age in the Premiership?
-I believe the Big Four is still ahead of everybody else, with Manchester City closing in. Tottenham's ambition is a top six finish and I am sure we have everything we need to fulfill it.

The fans are euphoric, shooting even higher?
-It makes sense after last year's frustrations. But it is a long season, we will take it one game at a time.

Especially because Manchester United and Chelsea await after the international break.
-Yes, on Saturday we have Birmingham at home and after the break Manchester at home and Chelsea away. I have no fear, we will do well, depending also on their form, as these are the top two clubs in England.

Which one is better?
Hard to say. Chelsea has a great start under Ancelotti but it was similar last year with Scolari. ManU has lost some quality but still has an amazing wealth of talented players like Rooney and under-performers who should get out of their slump, like Berbatov and Owen..

Liverpool?
-They are strong, but they have lost a lot of creativity with the departure of Alonso.

It is rumored there will be even more losses after the income tax increase next year?
- I have read about it but the real impact remains to be seen. Whatever happens, the Premiership will still be a top, spectacular league. The stadium atmosphere is one of a kind!

This was the first yid-relevant bit. The middle is about the national team. He says Charlie and him talked trash with Defoe about the upcoming Wembley game. They said they'll put the clamps on him and Defoe said "you'll see". He also says he believes the English will do their best to beat Ukraine, which would help us enormously.

Second yidlevant bit:

There are news of a ManU offer?
-I don't know anything about it. I read about it in the newspapers and the Sun even printed my statements in which I love Ferguson's interest. I have never made these comments! I love it here at Tottenham and have no intention of leaving. My contract expires in 2013 and that is the least amount of time I will spend here.

The logical thing for the club to do would be to adjust your contract to the new factors: your affirmation and the interest from the big four.
-Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if I was offered an extension. It is a common practice here. But even if they don't, my feelings will not change. I love it at the White Hart Lane and will play my heart out for Tottenham as before.

The club is building a new camp, the new stadium is in the works. They obviously want to become the elite of the Premiership.
-The camp will be finished next year and it will be fantastic. It is in Einfield and it will have a dozen football fields, hotel, wellness and fitness centre, all things necessary for high level work. I have also seen the model of the stadium and it will be one of the prettiest in Europe.

The new camp and stadium are in the vicinity of the old ones, there will be no need for a move.
-No, I love it where I live, I don't have a long commute and comfort and discretion are guaranteed. I need nothing more.

Food remains the Achilles heal?
-I mostly eat at home, but when Vanja is not here I eat at camp. I still prefer our cousine, though.

Italian restaurants?
-When we go to town we eat at a couple of good restaurants and walk through London. London is the prettiest town I have ever seen.

Would it be hard to leave it for a better contract?
-It would be very hard, I am set in my ways now. But, the footballing way of life is such that I have to be prepared for all eventualities.

How is your English coming along?
I am more or less there. I can understand everything, I sometimes get stuck when I have to say something quickly but a little less every day.

Left-side driving?
Not a problem anymore, you get used to everything.

There it is, people, hope it gives you some insight into Luka. Remember, this is for a Croatian newspaper so he wasn't brown-nosing, this is how he really feels, He had no way of knowing a slimy Croatian would translate him...
Interesting, my spellchecker didn't like my fabulous way with words. It tried to change yidettes into bidets, I had a little chuckle at that. Also, yidlevant stumped it completely. I believe it is time for the Oxford people to get with the yid program. COYS!

[kevfball63]

Thanks for translating that , i dont suppose Modric will thank you for getting in front of the newspapers but at least we can say "You heard it here first" . It sounds like he is a more homely type and that family happiness and comfort matter more to him than money ( very rare imo ) . But he does also say that he doesn't know what the future holds after 2013 , by that time our new stadium will have been built , and the fact that Harry has come good on his promise and built the team around him may just go to towards him seeing out his carreer at the lane .

All good in my book

[grandgramparabbi]

There are only two reasons he would leave:

1. Tottenham wins the Prem, FA Cup and Champions league.
He will only leave if he feels he has done all he can at the club. He showed this at Dinamo Zagreb and you will see it here. He has an enormous sense of obligation and commitment. The ultimate team player, but with skills. Uncanny...

2. Commoli returns, dumps Harry and Levy plus all the usefull players, buys Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Owen, Figo and any has-been he can think of. Luka suffers clinical depression, still tries for a year or two, but leaves in the end.

[llanellispur]

Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News | Modric dashes United talk

Think this shows his loyalty, he may well become a legend. Harry said him and Charlie are proper pros and it certainly looks that way.

[Eighteen82]

And my estimation of him continue to grows by the day.

[andyid1964]

thanks for that, after a great start to the season the only thing that was really worrying me was the usual scavengers, coming knocking for the magician,, some really settling statements from the wee man in there. we must build from here and i think he is our main foundation

[Croatian Spur]

i so hope that he`ll stay...

i do not wont to even picture him in a red dress....

[jeremija444]

Sportske Novosti, in English Sports News (no end to the imagination of Croatians, really) are the only daily newspaper specialized in sport in Croatia. As such, they are not at all bad, their General Manager is one Zvonimir Boban - ring a bell?

Unlike imaginative names like "The Sun", "Daily Mirror" etc. That name is like 100 years old and were the only sports papers around. It was a different time my friend.

Boban is not their GM anymore as he saw they are rapidly becoming yellow. Once a respected newspapers (still are today to some point) is becoming trash bin like everything else.

[nickGT]

Thanks alot for taking the time to translate.

[Spurs4life93]

All hail King Luka.

[Croatian Spur]

Unlike imaginative names like "The Sun", "Daily Mirror" etc. That name is like 100 years old and were the only sports papers around. It was a different time my friend.

Boban is not their GM anymore as he saw they are rapidly becoming yellow. Once a respected newspapers (still are today to some point) is becoming trash bin like everything else.

bollock, the name is old for about 60 years...

Sportske novosti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[grandgramparabbi]

Yes, in the olden days I used to tramp through 11 feet high snow for 75 miles to get to the newsstand and it was worth it. That is how good sports newspapers were back then...
It is all the same ****e all over. That is why I enjoy the forums and blogs, you can hear how real people feel, not underpaid and over-lubricated hacks. Not to say that the people on blogs and forums are overpaid or under-lubricated. I lubricate the hell out of my insides every weekend at the local pub...

[grandgramparabbi]

No problem, Nick. It was a labour of love...

[jeremija444]

bollock, the name is old for about 60 years...

Sportske novosti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tell me, are you being stupid or sarcastic? It wasn`t my intention to say the year they were founded FFS. See that "like" in front of 100. OMG. I just wanted to stress they are really old. And from our perspective it`s doesn`t mean a fook if it`s 100 or 60 years. Get a life FFS.

[Croatian Spur]

Tell me, are you being stupid or sarcastic? It wasn`t my intention to date the year they were founded FFS. See that "like" in front of 100. OMG. I just wanted to stress they are really old. And from our perspective it`s doesn`t mean a fook if it`s 100 or 60 years. Get a life FFS.

but you spent more time on this forum than I do...