Real Madrid legend explains what went wrong for Barcelona in El Clasico – ‘I can’t understand…’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has shared his thoughts on last weekend’s El Clasico, offering a surprisingly sharp analysis from Barcelona’s point of view. 

Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen (h/t SPORT), the German midfielder openly criticised Hansi Flick’s tactical approach, suggesting that the Barcelona boss made costly selection errors that handed Real Madrid the upper hand in the contest.

Kroos did not hold back when discussing one of Flick’s most debated decisions, which was choosing Eric Garcia to start in central defence. 

“I don’t understand why Eric Garcia played in central defence, as he is a slightly better footballer than Araujo. 

“But Araujo has the physical strength to chase down opponents more, especially when you defend so high up the pitch. 

“He would have been the ideal player for that style of play and that opponent. I really can’t understand it,” he explained.

Leaving Araujo cost Barcelona

The German legend argued that leaving out Ronald Araujo played perfectly into Madrid’s hands, as their forwards, particularly Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., found it easier to exploit the slower defenders. 

“When you have Mbappe and Vinicius up front, you need someone who can match that pace. Araujo can do that. I was very surprised by his absence,” Kroos admitted. 

Kroos also pointed out Barcelona’s broader defensive issues this season, warning that they could persist throughout the campaign. 

Kroos feels Barcelona missed Ronald Araujo. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“I said it at the time that Inigo Martinez was very important. Last year, he was Barça’s best centre-back in terms of passing.

“He wasn’t the fastest, but he was an excellent defender and had great build-up play. 

“Against Madrid, his absence was noticeable when the team came under pressure. 

“They didn’t replace him, and that’s taking its toll,” he remarked, underlining the void left by Martinez’s departure.

Words of wisdom?

However, despite his criticism, Kroos remained optimistic about Barcelona’s potential recovery. 

He reminded listeners that injuries and Flick’s suspension had weakened the side significantly during the Clasico. 

“It’s fair to say that Barça arrived very weakened: from the goalkeeper to the coach because Flick couldn’t be on the bench. 

“They were also missing key players such as Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Lewandowski, and that makes a huge difference in a game like this. I’m sure they will improve,” he concluded.