Real Madrid icon, Toni Kroos, has called on new manager Xabi Alonso to urgently address the club’s defensive frailties before the upcoming La Liga campaign kicks off.
Kroos shared his concerns in the wake of Madrid’s crushing 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, a result that has intensified scrutiny of the team’s backline and overall cohesion.
Reflecting on Madrid’s struggles under former coach Carlo Ancelotti, Kroos emphasized that a lack of defensive unity was central to their inconsistent performances last season.
However, he expressed confidence in Alonso’s ability to turn things around.
“It helps the team a lot to have the feeling that you’re defending together,” Kroos said on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast. “You have more energy when you win the ball back.
“Otherwise, you’re constantly running in behind, or you feel like you can’t press because they’re always beating you, and you also feel like you can’t retreat because you’re not used to it.
“And that’s where we suffered the most last season, and that’s why our play on the ball also looked so poor.”
The lack of defensive effort from star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr has also drawn heavy criticism in the media, as Madrid looks to rebuild a more balanced squad under Alonso’s leadership.