Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos questions Barcelona’s Champions League chances and praises Lamine Yamal

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos questions Barcelona’s Champions League chances and praises Lamine Yamal Former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has questioned whether Barcelona possess the defensive quality required to win the Champions League under Hansi Flick, despite praising their attacking football and Lamine Yamal’s individual brilliance.  Reflecting on Barcelona’s performance against Atletico Madrid , the German identified the risks of their aggressive high defensive line, warning that technically superior opponents could exploit the spaces left behind. Kroos considers Barcelona one of Europe’s strongest teams alongside Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.  However, he also believes their tactical approach could become a significant obstacle in the Champions League, where defensive mistakes can have decisive consequences. Kroos questions Barcelona’s Champions League approach The German admires Barcelona’s attacking philosophy but believes it can leave them vulnerable against opponents capable of scoring from limited opportunities. “Barca always try to create more chances than their opponents, but in the Champions League, you face teams that can score several goals in a single game,” he began saying. He also highlighted the difficulty of maintaining their usual approach against defensively organised opponents, referencing their struggles against PSG. “You also face opponents who defend exceptionally well and don’t let you play your usual game. And in those situations, you must know how to defend yourself,” he said. Lamine Yamal receives special praise from Kroos Kroos was particularly impressed by Yamal’s performance against Atletico Madrid , highlighting how the teenager created opportunities through individual ability rather than relying on his teammates. Lamine Yamal impressed Toni Kroos with his performance against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) “Lamine Yamal’s first 25 minutes were absolutely exceptional. “It was the kind of performance that makes you believe one player can completely change a match on his own. “Every dangerous Barcelona attack seemed to come through him. “And it wasn’t because his teammates were finding him in perfect positions. “He was creating those advantages himself, beating opponents and producing chances through his own individual brilliance. “At one point, you could almost imagine him telling his teammates: ‘Just give me the ball. We’ll turn this game around.’” Kroos questions Barcelona’s defensive personnel The former Real Madrid midfielder believes Barcelona’s biggest tactical problem is their lack of defenders capable of consistently handling one-on-one situations when opponents break their press. “Barcelona don’t have someone like Upamecano, a defender you can leave completely alone in a 1v1 with 30 metres of space behind him and still feel confident he’ll handle it,” he analysed. Although he stated that Cubarsi is Flick’s best defender, he highlighted the fact that Barcelona do not have a player who can complement the Spaniard in defence. Toni Kroos praised Pau Cubarsi. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) “For me, Cubarsi is by far their best defender. He has the strength to win individual duels and the speed to deal with difficult situations. “But when I look at their other three defenders, I don’t see anyone I would trust to defend alone against a striker with 30 metres of open space behind them. “The moment an opponent breaks Barcelona’s press, there’s an enormous amount of space to exploit. “And the biggest problem is that the defenders covering that space don’t have the extraordinary pace or defensive ability required. “With players like Upamecano or Davies, I wouldn’t be concerned about defending those 30 metres. “But with Cancelo, Gerard Martín and similar players, it becomes MUCH harder.” Despite his criticism, however, Kroos remains an admirer of Barcelona’s football. “Personally, I absolutely love the way Barcelona play. I think their football is brilliant and incredibly entertaining to watch. “But the problem is that they simply don’t have the exceptional defensive quality needed to play that way without exposing themselves to serious problems,” he concluded. Source: SPORT