It has been a nervous season for Real Madrid so far that started off without one of the club's best ever players, if not the best, in Cristiano Ronaldo, and no world class star replaced him.
Los Blancos have lacked consistency with five defeats and two draws in 16 matches. They are in the last 16 of the Champions League but they were left red-faced in Europe with their 3-0 home defeat at the hands of CSKA Moscow.
Now on top of everything it appears as though Diego Simeone has managed to wind up the players.
The Argentine is an expert a provocation and his comments often directed towards Real Madrid are always designed to spark a reaction. It appears his approach has now worked with Modric the first to take the bait and he stated: "he always finds the need to undermine Real Madrid."
It was clear that the Croat was very unhappy with the digs from Simeone who felt that Griezmann was more deserving of winning the Ballon d'Or.
He said: "Courtois left for Madrid and became the best goalkeeper in the world, when he was with us Keylor Navas beat him to it when he was at Levante. You understand right?"
Modric responded: "He takes advantage of any opportunity to insinuate something as an explanation for why Madrid achieves something ahead of others.
"It is not right that our successes, including two honourable victories over Atletico in the Champions League, should be reduced to some populist line of favours for Real Madrid."
That was not the end of it either as after the Rayo match Courtois was asked about his opinion on the matter and the Belgian fell right into the trap.
"Simeone criticises Madrid so as to be popular with his fans, he always does it, hits out at Madrid for being the best in the world," he stated.
"Im my case he said that I had won this trophy because I am at Real Madrid but during the World Cup I was at Chelsea. The Best award is voted by July when I wasn't at Madrid, I don't think it is right to under-rate me like that."