"Right at the top…": Toni Kroos on Dortmund’s Bundesliga title hopes | OneFootball

When Toni Kroos speaks, the football world listens attentively. The 35-year-old global star, who ended his highly successful career in 2024, is now active as a TV expert. The Bundesliga season starting on Friday is at the center of his forecast.

Kroos knows how to win titles. The former midfield maestro not only lifted the trophy at the 2014 World Cup, but also in Germany and Spain. He won the Champions League trophy five times with Real Madrid (2016-2018, 2022, 2024) and once with FC Bayern Munich (2013). No other player has won the "premier class" more often.

In a conversation with RTL/ntv and sport.de, Kroos now commented on BVB's chances in the new season. "I see Dortmund as the favorite for second place," the Greifswald native is convinced. But he adds: "Quite clearly behind Bayern, unfortunately." However, the runner-up championship is possible: "They can reclaim that position." The last time the Black and Yellows achieved this was in the 2022/23 season. In the following years, Borussia finished fifth (23/24) and fourth (24/25).

BVB as Bayern's number one challenger

However, Kroos, who played 173 games in the Bundesliga for Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, does not see a chance for the championship trophy. "It won't be enough for the very top," the 35-year-old estimates, "but they can definitely achieve a better position than last year." The last championship title of the Westphalians dates back more than 13 years. Under Jürgen Klopp (now 58), BVB was last able to celebrate as the best team in Germany. It was in 2011/12: a long time ago.

But the trophy is not the goal of the Black and Yellows, Kroos is convinced. "They want to get very close to Bayern again and annoy them as long as possible," the 114-time national player suspects. The Dortmund team has "lived up to this expectation for a long time."

But to get to the very top, "you need the players," analyzes the two-time Footballer of the Year in Germany (2018, 2024). Kroos speaks plainly: "At the moment, BVB fans may lack the imagination that it is possible to threaten Bayern with this squad."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.