"Alonso arrives in a different situation than Lopetegui did before", Kroos said on 27/8 on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast. "His achievements as a player earn him respect, but if the team doesn't win a trophy in three years, his resume will become irrelevant. At Real, every manager and player lives by results."

Kroos (left) and Alonso during the second leg of the 2017 Champions League quarter-final between Real and Bayern at the Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, Spain on the evening of 18/4/2017. Photo: X/Football__Tweet

Kroos was brought to Real in the summer of 2014 to replace Alonso. The Spanish manager won 5 trophies with Real between 2010 and 2014, including one Champions League title. Kroos has surpassed that, winning 22 trophies, including 5 Champions League titles.

Also on the program, Kroos was asked if President Florentino Perez would be patient enough if Real had a rough start. He recalled the case of Lopetegui, who was sacked after only 4 months in 2019, while Ancelotti and Zidane went through difficult periods but were retained.

Kroos replied that the deciding factor lies in the belief that the board and players have in the manager. "It's not just about results, but also how the team plays, how they lose. Sometimes, faith in the manager's abilities gives him more time," the former German midfielder added.

Assessing Real's current squad, Kroos expressed optimism, stating that the team has added quality players. He believes Real will perform better than last season but acknowledges there's still room for improvement. The 35-year-old former midfielder particularly praised young center-back Dean Huijsen: "A complete player, good in the air, quick, and comfortable playing the ball out from the back."

However, Kroos warned that winning trophies won't be easy for Real. He considers Barca a formidable opponent, while the Champions League boasts strong contenders like Liverpool, Man City, Bayern, PSG, and Arsenal. "To win, Real has to beat the top teams, something we didn't manage last season," he said.

Since taking charge of Real, Alonso has rotated his players for experimentation, and no one is exempt from this rule, not even Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, or Trent Alexander-Arnold. In their first two matches this season, Real has maintained a perfect record, scoring 4 goals without conceding.

Hoang An (via AS)