Carlo Ancelotti has explained his decision to not bring Luka Modric on off the bench during Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas on Saturday.

Having played over 500 games and won five UEFA Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles, the Ballon d’Or winner is rightfully considered to be a true club legend at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Now 38 years old however, Modric has seen his recent gametime be significantly reduced during the 2023/24 campaign, making a measly nine La Liga starts and seven cameo appearances thus far.

Despite Ancelotti opting to make all five of his allocated substitutions in order to turn the game at the Estadio de Gran Canaria around after going 1-0 down thanks to a Javier Munoz goal, Modric was left as an unused sub on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to Diario AS after the game, the manager was keen to downplay the decision to not play the legendary midfielder, explaining: “If I’m not sure he’s going to play, I don’t ask him to warm him up. I must respect him.

“When I’m sure he’s going to come on, I ask him to warm up. But, when I have doubts, I don’t. He’s fine, and is available for the next game.”

One midfielder who did come off the bench was Aurelien Tchouameni, with the talented France international going on to win the game for Madrid in the 84th minute.

Speaking about the impact of Tchouameni from the bench, Ancelotti praised the substitute’s motivation to impress, stating:

“This is a tool we have, a motivated bench that often contributes a lot when entering the field. This is a tool we have and we would like to take advantage or enjoy more transitions, but it can’t always happen.

“We’re left with this, that I look at the bench and I have a lot of opportunities to change a game because those on the bench are very motivated.”