In the preseason classic, always a symbolic duel, Kroos was a substitute. In the league premiere in San Mamés, too. On the second day, in Almería, he was a starter, benefiting from Camavinga’s discomfort, but in the next match, in Vigo, he started again in the shadows. Quite a turn of events for him that equally affected Modric, who took it worse in Valdebebas’ day-to-day life than the German. Those decisions were part of the club’s commitment to try to accelerate the generational transition in the midfield after the 4-0 defeat received by City, but after a few games of the new season, Carlo Ancelotti concluded that he did not have any a footballer as capable as Kroos in organizing the release of the ball. “He is irreplaceable, also when he doesn’t play,” the Italian said a few months ago.
The midfielder, born 34 years ago in East Germany and who belonged to Bayern for eight years, lands in the sunny Allianz Arena, in the semifinals of the Champions League (9:00 p.m., Movistar), after a fully-fledged football campaign despite starting in the second half. row. His contract expires again in June and his continuity is one of the pending issues before he leaves for the Euro Cup. The Reggiolo coach wants the renewal of this discreet, but direct type. Right now, he doesn’t have anyone like him on the pitch.
Curiously, his start to the year so against the grain has contrasted with subsequent months of great influence on the game, favored by the construction around him of a shell that has armored him. The best scenario for him. The shield has allowed him not to be so exposed in defense and enhances his ability to build. From the outset, he has always had a holding midfielder at his side, be it Tchouameni, Camavinga or Valverde. On the left side, the side to which he usually leans, he has had the support of Mendy, unlike last season, when the expansive Camavinga was there due to the Frenchman’s physical problems. And ahead, he has received help from Bellingham.
In some cases due to health, and in others due to circumstances thanks to Carletto’s new drawing after the departure of Benzema and the arrival of the Englishman, everything has led to an ecosystem that has especially protected the German. Around him, a battery of young and physical players has been deployed that has given him a very favorable scenario for his interests.
“I have known him since the national team, and he gives each team the security of having the ball,” said Joshua Kimmich this Monday, who stopped being a midfielder to dedicate himself to the right back. Along these lines, the local coach, Thomas Tüchel, stressed that in Madrid there are things that do not change, and one of them is the Kroos impact.
The best passing percentage in the major leagues
So far in the Champions League, there is no midfielder with a better passing success rate (95.7%) than him taking into account his volume of deliveries (611). He has only missed 26 in nine games. And among all the media in the five major leagues, no one surpasses his effectiveness either (94.5%).
If this season it has enjoyed the tailwind, last season it suffered more hardships. The typical eleven after the World Cup left him very exposed because Carletto dispensed with the pure defensive pivot (Tchouameni went into crisis and Camavinga moved him to the side) to add Rodrygo up front. Placed in a 4-3-3, Kroos had to cover more space and in a worse scenario, because there was one less piece in the midfield (the containment specialist), he did not have the help of a Bellingham, and at his side was another veteran ( Modric) and only one young man (Valverde). The bet seemed contraindicated for Kroos. In those days, the coach argued that the German could take on this task, despite the defensive risk, if the rest helped him. Exactly what occurs now in the new drawing, where he has many fresh legs next to him. A display that has also helped Madrid keep a clean sheet in half of their League matches (17 out of 33).
Kroos has renewed his validity despite the start of the season on the bench, but what has been drastically reduced is his union with Modric, who turns 39 in September. Last season they coincided on the field for 42% of the minutes and in this, only 17%, according to Opta. The Croatian, whose good physical condition Carletto has assessed in recent weeks, has become the German’s substitute. They are rarely seen together anymore, the most obvious consequence of that transition. While the club doubts Modric’s continuity, it awaits that of the German, almost five years younger.
Madrid has been renewing the core with Camavinga (31 million), Tchouameni (80) and Bellingham (103 more up to 30% in variables), and the promotion of Valverde. But what he has not discovered yet, inside or outside, is a natural replacement for Kroos, who plays with the armor of these young people.
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