Toni Kroos has laid out what he believes are the key ingredients for Real Madrid to reclaim their place at the pinnacle of world football: focus, a defined tactical system, and effective implementation. Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, the former midfield maestro emphasized that clarity in approach must come before player decisions.

"To get back to the very top, the most important thing, in my opinion, is focus, a system, and how that system works and is implemented. From there, you decide which player is missing, depending on the style of football you want to play,” said Kroos.

Reflecting on Real Madrid’s weaknesses under Carlo Ancelotti last season, Kroos pointed to defensive compactness as the most glaring issue. He argued that without collective defensive effort, the team lacked balance and intensity.

"It adds a lot to the team to feel like you’re defending together. You gain energy when you recover the ball. If not, you’re always chasing, or you can’t press because you’re outnumbered. Falling back isn’t effective either if it’s unfamiliar. That’s where the team suffered the most last season, and it made their ball play look poor as well,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Kroos expressed full confidence in new coach Xabi Alonso, believing his clear footballing vision will help reestablish control in both defense and attack. "I trust Xabi to transmit a clear idea. Everything revolves around control. And if they defend better, the rest will follow,” Kroos added.

Turning his attention to the squad, Kroos highlighted Arda Güler as a strong candidate for the number ten role, praising his growth both technically and physically. "He already had the footballing quality last season, but now he’s taken a physical step forward. He brings a lot to the game,” he said.

Kroos also noted that Güler’s creative freedom can be justified if he remains committed to the defensive task. "If you have a player like that playing between the lines, I’m in favor of turning a blind eye to lost duels as long as he has a clear role and contributes to defense,” Kroos concluded.

The veteran’s reflections reinforce the need for tactical discipline, defined roles, and a coherent team structure as Real Madrid look to bounce back from a difficult campaign.

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