Toni Kroos analyzed Real Madrid’s poor form and defended Xabi Alonso
The former player shared his perspective on what is happening at the club where he played for 10 years.
After a month-long winter hiatus, Toni Kroos has officially returned to the airwaves with a new episode of his popular podcast, Einfach mal luppen, which he hosts alongside his brother, Felix. The timing of the release could not have been more explosive. The episode dropped just hours after Real Madrid officially dismissed Xabi Alonso as head coach, following the club's crushing defeat to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
While the football world was reeling from the news of Alonso's firing, Kroos took a step back to offer a surgical analysis of the 3-2 loss in Riyadh. For the German legend, the defeat was not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of deep structural weaknesses that have plagued the "Merengues" throughout the 2025-26 season.
The Fitness Trap: "Chasing the Ball Kills You"
Kroos began his analysis by addressing Madrid's physical and tactical approach, particularly their tendency to play without the ball. From his perspective, the strategy of "suffering and counter-attacking" has become a double-edged sword that is currently dulling the team's edge.
"When you spend the majority of the game chasing the opponent, you eventually pay the price," Kroos explained.
He noted that between the 15th and 45th minutes, Real Madrid was practically unable to cross the halfway line. This lack of ball retention meant the team could not activate vertical transitions, leaving the defenders exposed. For Kroos, when a team has the individual talent that Barcelona possesses, giving them that much time and space is a "guarantee for conceded goals."
The Xabi Alonso Paradox
Kroos’s comments on Xabi Alonso were particularly poignant given the timing. He praised the Spanish coach’s ability to read the game but questioned the repetition of his defensive setup. While Kroos appreciated that Alonso didn't let the final become an open "toe-to-toe" battle—which he considered dangerous—he argued that relying solely on defensive solidity is a "death sentence" for a club of Madrid's stature in the long run.
According to Kroos, Real Madrid currently relies far too heavily on "excessive individual quality," such as Vinícius Jr.’s solo runs, rather than collective passing combinations that force the opponent to run without the ball. "If you balance possession, your chances of beating Barça increase significantly. If you only rely on the counter-attack, your options are drastically reduced," he warned.
The "Vini" Factor: Back to the Left
One of the most tactical insights from the podcast centered on Vinícius Jr. Kroos was adamant that while Vini is Madrid’s most dangerous asset, he is being hindered by his positioning. The German argued that Vinícius must start from the left wing to be effective. When forced into more central roles, his ability to create space and resolve 1v1 situations is neutralized. "Vini needs the sideline to be the version of Vini that makes the difference," Kroos stated.
Identity and the "Skepticism" of Barcelona
Finally, Kroos reflected on Madrid’s lack of "feeling" for the game. He noted that the team seems to require a sense of "chaos" to thrive—open games with a frantic back-and-forth pace. However, he cautioned that a great team must know how to "pause." He cited the moments leading up to Barcelona’s opening goal as proof that Madrid does not yet know how to secure possession to kill the opponent's momentum.
Despite Barcelona's victory and their current lead in La Liga, Kroos ended the episode with a controversial take that will surely rile up the fans in Catalonia: he remains a skeptic of Hansi Flick’s project.
"I maintain what I said last season," Kroos concluded. "I don’t believe that playing this way will be enough to conquer an international title." For Kroos, while Barça is dominant in Spain, their high-line and high-risk style might still be too vulnerable for the elite stages of the Champions League.
