Toni Kroos has praised Pep Guardiola, discussed Xabi Alonso’s move from Real Madrid and said Los Blancos are ‘ahead of Bayern Munich.’
Kroos moved from Bayern to Madrid following the World Cup, while Alonso went the other way in the final week of the transfer window.
The Germany international has told Bild, in an interview published by AS, that Guardiola helped his career and had nothing to do with his decision to quit Munich.
“He perfected my game. Why I left Bayern had nothing to do with him,” the midfielder insisted.
“I understand football now. He tuned my game and made me evolve.
“Bayern didn’t sign Xabi as a response to me leaving, it was because they’ve suffered a lot of injuries. I see no relation in his departure and me coming to Madrid.”
Asked to compare his former club with his new employers, Kroos said he feels Madrid are slightly in front of the Bundesliga side.
“We’re talking about the two biggest teams in the world,” he replied.
“But I think overall Madrid is one step ahead. When I think of my presentation at Santiago Bernabeu, with 20,000 fans in the stand, even though I hadn’t played a single second…such a thing is unthinkable in Germany.
“The mentality of the fans in Spain is even more emotional.”
