Real Madrid's problem: Endless nostalgia for Toni Kroos

Real Madrid exited the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a 4-0 defeat to PSG, reminding them of the lack of an organizer like Toni Kroos.

Endless longing for Kroos

“ Real Madrid are lacking players like me and they are still looking. The problem is there aren't many like that, and even if there were, it wouldn't be easy to sign them ,” Toni Kroos told Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the second semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Speaking to a leading Italian sports newspaper, Kroos was frank about Real Madrid's positive results: " It's too early to judge the club under Xabi ."

Kroos is right, Real Madrid lacks midfielders like him. Photo: EFE

It takes time to understand the changes and the application of Alonso's philosophy. I can only say that he has done a very good job in Germany .

Kroos's assessment was entirely accurate after 90 minutes of the match between the two most recent Champions League champions at MetLife Stadium: PSG thrashed Real Madrid 4-0.

Almost a year ago, also in the United States, while preparing for the pre-season, Carlo Ancelotti looked at the players he had in midfield and decided that he needed to look forward.

“We are missing Kroos, but we have every possibility to replace him,” Ancelotti argued; “in another way, of course, because there is no one who possesses the quality of Toni.”

Ancelotti never wanted to make excuses for the absence of a playmaker like Kroos. He shouldn't even be mentioned.

However, from the opening match draw against Al Hilal to the defeat against PSG, it's necessary to mention Kroos, as well as the huge void he left behind.

In the first half of the Al Hilal match, the midfield was entrusted to Bellingham, Valverde, and Tchouameni – a trio that had previously shown difficulty in controlling matches. During that first 45 minutes, the Saudi Arabian side had more possession.

Valverde is dynamic, but not Kroos. Photo: RMCF

Conversely, the possession that Real Madrid had was quite harmless. Passes through the middle or from one wing to the other were often far from Al Hilal's goal.

After the break, Alonso substituted Asencio, moved Tchouameni back to center-back, and brought on Arda Guler, a player with excellent technical skills and a creative style of play. With him on the field, the team's play became more positive.

Since then, Guler has become a creative link in midfield, leaving Rodrygo on the bench for five consecutive games.

Lack of brain

"We learned a lot from the game against Al Hilal," Courtois said after the first match of Alonso's tenure.

The Belgian goalkeeper explained: “We spent four years under Ancelotti and formed some fixed habits. Now we have to change to adapt to what the new coach wants.”

After beating weaker teams like Pachuca and Salzburg in the group stage, and struggling to overcome Juventus and Dortmund in the knockout phase, Courtois declared: "Xabi is more modern than Carlo."

Bellingham was isolated amidst a crowd of PSG players. Photo: RMCF

However, Alonso's modernity, which Courtois praised, still couldn't help Real Madrid overcome the "habits" of the five years under Ancelotti – including two Champions League titles and many other trophies.

One of those "habits" is Kroos. Even after leaving Real Madrid, he maintained a central role in his final season: most passes per game (72); midfielder creating the most chances (1.92).

During the first long season without Kroos, the team lacked a clear playmaker. Valverde and Tchouameni made the most passes (58), but had less influence.

These two players combined only create an average of 1.5 chances per game – fewer than Kroos alone.

The midfielder who created the most chances was Luka Modric, averaging 1.74 chances per game. However, the Croatian player just ended his journey with Real Madrid after losing to PSG.

Guler created three chances in the match against Al Hilal. However, in the crucial match against PSG, he failed to impress against the opponent's quality midfield – led by Vitinha – and had to leave the field early.

Alonso lacks the brains to distribute the ball effectively. Photo: Imago

Xabi and Ancelotti share similar views in many analyses of the team, including the need to acquire a "brain" to organize the gameplay – something both have acknowledged.

Ancelotti persevered almost until the end of his tenure. Just three months before leaving the coaching position, he put forward two names: Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool and Sandro Tonali of Newcastle.

In response, the management pointed out that the team had too many midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Modric (now gone), and Dani Ceballos – whom Alonso still didn't use in the emergency situation against PSG.

Based on Ancelotti's comments and Alonso's six-match FIFA Club World Cup 2025 campaign, Real Madrid may have to enter the transfer market to find a new version of Kroos.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/van-de-cua-real-madrid-noi-nho-bat-tan-voi-toni-kroos-2420442.html