Former German midfielder Tony Kroos shared his thoughts on the stark contrast between Barcelona and Real Madrid’s current form.
After a devastating series of defeats in four consecutive El Clásicos over the past six months, Real Madrid is on the brink of finishing the season without a single trophy. While Madrid’s fragility is evident, Barcelona is showcasing a dominant and powerful side, contrasting with Madrid’s disorganized state.
Kroos, who knows Real Madrid’s locker room inside and out, is one of the few who can truly describe the club’s current vulnerable position. According to him, Real Madrid is suffering from a severe lack of confidence, while their arch-rivals, Barcelona, play without fear.
Kroos used the most recent Clásico as an example to highlight the difference between the two teams. Real Madrid had to win to keep their hopes alive in the La Liga title race, and they initially took a 2-0 lead with goals from Kylian Mbappé. However, they failed to take control of the game afterward.
Reflecting on the match during a podcast with his brother, Kroos admitted that even when Real Madrid was leading 2-0, he still doubted their chances of winning. “Even when Real Madrid was 2-0 up, I had doubts about their chances (of winning). It was an excellent start, but I still didn’t feel that we had control of the match,” he said.
After spending a decade at Santiago Bernabéu, winning five Champions League titles and four La Liga trophies, Kroos couldn’t help but praise Barcelona’s performance. For the retired German footballer, under the management of Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s ability to dominate even after falling behind in matches, especially in Clásicos, is no surprise.
“The most impressive thing about Barcelona is how they kept playing even when they were 2-0 down. No one could say they were afraid. You could say that, after going 2-0 up, Real Madrid was the one fearing defeat,” Kroos said. “Barcelona played so comfortably with the ball, while Madrid couldn’t get onto the field with any confidence.”
Barcelona mounted a stunning comeback, scoring four goals in the first half and going on to win 4-3, despite Mbappé completing his hat-trick for Madrid in the second half.
Kroos also pointed out that Real Madrid’s poor performance this season has been partly due to injury problems, particularly in defense. The team has struggled to field a full-strength defense in most matches, with key defenders missing in many games.
“Real Madrid had to play without most of their defense this season. Everyone expects them to build up attacks from the back, and for that, you need players who can execute it. That’s why it has been so difficult for Madrid to compete against the best teams this year,” Kroos explained.
Following their loss in the latest Clásico, Real Madrid now trails Barcelona by seven points. If they fail to win their next match against Mallorca, Barcelona will be crowned champions.
In this upcoming home game, Real Madrid is again struggling with injuries, with key players like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and several others unavailable for coach Carlo Ancelotti.
