Kroos: Barcelona Must Change Style to Win Champions League
T.E (Elbotola)
17 April 2026at17:15
Former Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has stated that Barcelona will not be able to win the Champions League title if they continue to play with their current style.
In a video on his "Luppen TV" channel, Kroos commented on the Catalan club's playing style, saying: "When you defend in this manner and leave all those spaces, it's natural for such things to happen, including red cards to avoid a direct confrontation with the goalkeeper."
He added: "It happened to them last year against Inter Milan, and this year against Atlético Madrid. As I said, if they don't change their playing style, they will never win the Champions League."
Barcelona had exited the Champions League quarter-finals after losing to Atlético Madrid 3-2 on aggregate, with the Madrid team subsequently setting up a semi-final clash with English side Arsenal.
What did Toni Kroos say about Barcelona's Champions League chances?
Toni Kroos stated that Barcelona will not win the Champions League if they maintain their current playing style. He criticized their defensive approach, highlighting the spaces left open and the resulting issues, including red cards.
Why does Toni Kroos believe Barcelona's style is problematic?
Toni Kroos believes Barcelona's style is problematic due to their defensive vulnerabilities. He specifically mentioned how leaving significant spaces makes them susceptible to conceding goals and leads to situations requiring desperate measures, like red cards.
What must Barcelona do to succeed in the Champions League, according to Kroos?
According to Toni Kroos, Barcelona must change their playing style to succeed in the Champions League. He emphasized that without significant tactical adjustments, particularly in their defensive organization, they will continue to fall short of winning the prestigious title.