Berlin (AP) – ZDF reporter Nils Kaben criticized Toni Kroos for breaking off the interview after winning the Champions League final, but also admitted that he could have phrased a question “very clearly” better.
Real Madrid midfielder Kroos ended the interview early on Saturday after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final. “You had 90 minutes to think of sensible questions and then you ask me two shitty questions,” replied the ex-world champion shortly after the game. The 32-year-old was asked if it was surprising that Real came under so much pressure in the final on Saturday night at the Stade de France.
“Kroos could have used the question as a template to point out that Real had always saved themselves in difficult situations throughout the competition,” Kaben told the “Spiegel” in an interview. After consultation with colleagues, it was “very clear that you shouldn’t behave like that as a player”. Turning a factual question about the course of the game into something personal is not an option.
“A misunderstanding at best”
He knows Kroos differently, but also expects respect the other way around, said Kaben. “At best, it was a misunderstanding with a lot of adrenaline,” the 54-year-old continued. He does not expect the incident to have any further consequences for the relationship. “I think Toni Kroos and I will exchange three sentences next time we meet. And then it’s good again.”
When asked, Kroos replied that it was “not surprising that you are in trouble against Liverpool”, adding: “What kind of question is that, you’re not playing a group game somewhere, we’re playing the Champions League final.” After another question from Kaben, Kroos just walked away and scolded: “It’s really bad, really bad.” Kaben basically explained: “We and most other media houses are not fans. We are the companions of the teams.”