Toni Kroos, a former Real Madrid midfielder and World Cup champion, has strongly cautioned Barcelona about their current style of play and chances of winning the Champions League. In his well-liked podcast, Kroos criticized Barcelona's excessive risk-taking during games while applauding the squad for having one of the most alluring playing styles in Europe.
Kroos stressed that "any team can hurt them and knock them out of the Champions League" if key players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, or Raphinha struggle. He cautioned that if Barcelona doesn't alter their approach, history may repeat itself this season, citing Inter Milan's defeat from the previous campaign as an example. He also called attention to Barcelona's physical fitness issues and their tendency to play a risky, open style late in games when fatigue sets in, leaving them vulnerable to counterattacks.
While Kroos remained optimistic about Barcelona's chances in La Liga, calling them too dominant domestically, he expressed serious concerns about their ability to survive the high-stakes battles in Europe’s top club competition if they continue on this path.
DirectSports24 will keep monitoring Barcelona’s Champions League campaign and any tactical changes as they aim to avoid early elimination amid Kroos’s warning.