Modric admits feeling 'completely drained' after slow start to the season

FIFA's world player of the year Luka Modric has admitted he started this season feeling "completely drained" after Croatia's run to the World Cup final.

Already named the player of the tournament in Russia and UEFA's player of the year, the 33-year-old midfielder added the FIFA accolade at a glitzy awards ceremony in London on Monday.

These individual prizes were fitting reward for another excellent season for club and country, as Real Madrid claimed a third straight Champions League title and Croatia reached a first World Cup final.

But those long cup runs meant Modric had a short summer break and, like many other stars from the World Cup this summer, he has made a relatively slow start to the new campaign.

Speaking to world players' union FIFPro at Monday's event, Modric said: "I had only three weeks of holiday - I think that's the least I've had as a footballer.

"The first week we spent celebrating, first in Zagreb and then in our own cities. It was not easy to start again after those emotional moments. I felt completely drained and I needed time to get back to my best level.

"I am feeling better and better each day now and I just need more games to get back to my best, but it was not easy. We were so eager to achieve something great with Croatia, but when we did all these emotions came down on us and it was not easy to recover.

"Now I'm getting better and the season has started. We need to forget about it and concentrate on what people expect from us this season."