Toni Kroos Breaks Silence on Real Madrid's Rocky Patch: "Stop Saying That"
Following Real Madrid's inability to retain their domestic and continental crowns last season, Toni Kroos has shared his thoughts on his former team's current situation.
Kroos concluded his time in the famous white jersey in fairy-tale style at the end of the 2023–24 campaign. Real Madrid secured La Liga glory and then, just five days afterward, overcame Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium to capture their 15th Champions League trophy.
The German playmaker, who arrived at Real Madrid after Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup victory, said goodbye to the club before retiring from professional football that same summer. Kroos's exit created a significant void in Los Blancos' engine room, which ultimately compromised the team's ability to secure silverware during Carlo Ancelotti's last season as manager.
Real Madrid endured 15 losses throughout all tournaments in the 2024–25 campaign and allowed 84 goals, marking the highest total in the club's history. Ancelotti's squad lost four Clásicos against Barcelona, came second in La Liga and were eliminated from the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage by Arsenal.
Similar to Madridistas worldwide, Kroos was powerless to do anything except observe as the team faltered in crucial moments.
"Listen, after I hung up my boots, I became a Real Madrid supporter; it's natural, following 10 years at this club," Kroos shared with El País Semanal. "And I witnessed, just like every other supporter of the team, that it wasn't a straightforward season.
"And supporters were commenting: 'it's because Toni Kroos isn't playing!' And my only wish was for everything to go smoothly and for them to quit making those remarks."
Certainly, many of Real Madrid's difficulties last season stemmed from their failure to find a suitable replacement for Kroos. When Los Blancos faced elite opposition in Spain and Europe, no midfielder could dictate the tempo like Kroos had done for more than ten years.
Real Madrid desperately lacked the German's cross-field passes to change the point of attack, his dead-ball expertise, his creative vision and above all, his calmness under pressure. With Kroos orchestrating the midfield, Real Madrid claimed 22 honors, including five Champions League victories.
"One aspect is certain, and that's the fact that the central midfield role is crucial in today's game; there's absolutely no question about it. Consider what occurred to Manchester City following an injury to a player like Rodri," Kroos added.
"The reality is that an excellent central midfielder or holding midfielder is sorely missed in his absence. When he's present, it's something that's assumed; it's as though you don't recognize it, as though everything flows naturally and then the attackers can decide matches effortlessly."
Incoming Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is said to be keen on acquiring a deep-lying playmaker this summer, but apart from Rodri, the club remains unconvinced by the available talent in the transfer market.