Modric wants more Champions League glory as he prepares for Tottenham reunion

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric will meet the team that gave him his first chance among the elite on Tuesday, Tottenham. The Croatian says the English side "have improved a lot as a club" since he left but said his move to Madrid has helped take him to "the next level." 

"Tottenham was my first international club," Modric told UEFA. "I spent four glorious years there and the fans were brilliant with me. I only have good memories. Tottenham have really strengthened as a club. They have invested heavily, they have a new training ground and stadium and become a team ready to compete for the Premier League title. They deserve it because of their tradition and fans. I wish them all the best, but not in the two games they play against us."

Modric also remembered the moment in which he decided to leave Tottenham and accept the challenge of signing for Real Madrid. He's happy about everything he's experienced since then. 

"After four seasons with Tottenham, where I had grown as much as possible, I needed new challenges for the sake of improving," he continued. "Real Madrid were the ideal club for me, and when I knew they were interested, I couldn't think about anything else. Signing for this club helped me move up to the next level. I am playing the best football of my career. Playing in the Santiago Bernabéu is special. I relish each moment and I hope that I have many more years to look forward to."

THE NO.10 SHIRT 

Since the start of this season, Modric has worn the No.10 shirt for Madrid following the exit of James Rodriguez. It's a number which makes him feel special. 

"I'm hugely proud to wear the number 10 shirt at Real Madrid," he said. "It is a shirt with a lot of history, it's my favourite and when I found out it was available I had to have it. Getting your favourite number on the back of your shirt is really special, especially when you're at the biggest club in the world."

PRAISE FOR ZIDANE 

And he puts Madrid's success in the last two years firmly at the feet of coach Zinedine Zidane. "Having Zidane take training every day is special and we enjoy it," he said. "Our success over these couple of years is down to him. He brings calm and stability and he has created a really positive atmosphere.

"He makes sure all of the players feel important and valued. That is a hard thing to achieve at this kind of club but he has managed it. His character has played an important role and we all value him. He brings us all together and you can see that he has kept hold of a lot of aspects that made him a great player."

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Finally, after winning two successive Champions League, Modric is ambitious to win more: "Playing at Real Madrid is something special in itself but winning trophies with Real Madrid is even more thrilling. We've won more Champions Leagues than anyone. I'm happy to have won three Champions League titles and even more so to have won twice in a row. We've won practically everything there is to win recently and we need to stay strong, in order to win more Champions League titles in the next few years."