Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos: “Manchester City did not deserve to win” | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has offered a detailed and honest assessment of Los Blancos’ 1-2 defeat to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. 

He highlighted the contrast between this performance and the inconsistent level Los Blancos have shown throughout the season. 

Speaking in Einfach mal Luppen with the authority of someone who understands Real Madrid’s identity better than most, Kroos dissected the match with both precision and conviction.

What did he say?

Kroos pointed out that the intensity of Real Madrid was immediately noticeable, especially compared to Pep Guardiola’s side. He stated, 

“Real Madrid vs Man City? You could feel that Madrid were clearly more intense. This match mattered more to them.”

The German then turned his attention to Manchester City’s approach, noting that while the Premier League team followed their usual tactical plan, their execution lacked penetration. 

Kroos explained how City’s structure did little to trouble Real Madrid, saying, “What stood out to me is that City set up the game similarly to how they always do, but it was very static and harmless. 

Real Madrid played better football than Manchester City. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

“They never got into dangerous pockets of space, especially in the first half. 

“I think Madrid played a genuinely solid game and defended the dangerous zones extremely well and compactly.”

City did not deserve the win

Lastly, Kroos felt that Real Madrid deserved more from the night. “Manchester City did not deserve to win. Real Madrid were actually the more dangerous team.”

However, he also highlighted a recurring tactical issue that emerged once City sat deeper after scoring their second goal. 

He noted how this exposed a familiar flaw in Madrid’s offensive structure. “After City scored the second goal, they switched to a very deep block. 

“And this showed a visible problem for Madrid that they are incredibly good in transition, but they’re not incredibly good at breaking down low blocks,” he concluded.