One thing is certain: when Real Madrid play Manchester City in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday evening, Toni Kroos will once again pull the strings in midfield on the Royal side. The ex-national player is still indispensable for the defending champion, with his performances he also punishes a certain Uli Hoeneß from FC Bayern.
Toni Kroos is a real permanent guest in the semi-finals of the Champions League. For the tenth time in the past twelve years, the 33-year-old is in the premier class semi-finals. With his strong performances, the 2014 world champion is one of the undisputed regular players of head coach Carlo Ancelotti this season.
In the semi-final first leg against Manchester City, Kroos once again underlined his importance for Real Madrid. With a pass rate of 95 percent, the central midfielder proved that he can still shine at the absolute top level. In addition, since the departure of clearer Casemiro, Kroos has played a more defensive role and also knows how to convince in the game against the ball.
The creative player is therefore held in high esteem in the Spanish capital. According to reports, an extension of the contract that expires at the end of the season should only be a matter of form.
Hoeneß criticizes Kroos – he fights back
His perception at home is completely different, after all, the Greifswald player has been viewed critically in Germany over the past few years due to his style of play. Sometimes the derogatory nickname “Querpass-Toni” is used when Kroos is judged in this country.
Uli Hoeneß was particularly critical after the 2021 European Championship. “His way of playing is absolutely over,” said the honorary president of FC Bayern after the knockout round against England in the “Sport1 double pass”. “Other teams go forward with a train, and we played across, played across, played across,” Hoeneß said in a rage.
A verbal tip that Kroos didn’t want to let sit. The criticism “definitely did not motivate him,” said the real star last summer as part of the “Sport Bild” awards.
“Maybe annoyed at first, because I expected a little more expertise at first. Also based on the facts that spoke against it at the time and still contradict it today,” Kroos teased in the direction of the Bayern maker.
“Kroos will go down in history as the greatest German player”
At Tegernsee you should take a very close look when the former Bayern professional fights with Real Madrid for a place in the premier class final on Wednesday evening (9 p.m. in the LIVE ticker).
“I think you could see that we’re absolutely at eye level. We showed what we have to counter,” said Kroos after the 1-1 semi-final first leg against Manchester City on “Amazon Prime Video”. Real Madrid are facing “probably the most difficult away game in European football at the moment”.
What remains impressive is that should Kroos overcome the Manchester City hurdle with the royals and then win the final against Inter Milan, the sixth (!) Champions League triumph of his career awaits him.
“With the titles he has won, Kroos will go down in history not only as the most successful, but in my view as the greatest German player,” said TV expert Dietmar Hamann recently in his “Sky” column. “To deal with the pressure in a club like Real Madrid over the years like he does – it takes great playing quality and mental strength,” said the 2002 runner-up.
With a strong performance against Manchester City, Kroos could continue to build on his legend status.
Jannik Kube