Former German midfielder Toni Kroos, a Real Madrid legend, has made headlines again after aiming a direct criticism at Barcelona on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen. The World Cup winner with Germany analyzed the current situation of the Catalan side, especially after their elimination against PSG in the Champions League and their recent heavy defeat to Sevilla in LaLiga EA Sports.

“On a bad day, any team can knock them out”

With his usual bluntness, Kroos stated that Barcelona’s main problem lies in their risky style of play. “At Barcelona, they take too many risks… On a bad day for players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, or Raphinha, any team can hurt them and knock them out of the Champions League,” said the former German international.

The ex-Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder acknowledged that Hansi Flick’s team plays “one of the most attractive styles in Europe,” but warned that this philosophy can backfire when physical condition or technical sharpness dips. “It already happened to them last year against Inter Milan, and it’ll happen again this year — whether in the round of 16, quarterfinals, or semifinals. It’s a risk they take every season,” he added.

Kroos: “Fatigue leaves them exposed”

The German, who retired from professional football after Euro 2024, also pointed to physical fatigue as one of the key reasons behind Barça’s drop in performance. “After the 75th minute, you can see they’re more tired. They don’t change their style to protect themselves — they keep playing the same way, and that leaves them very exposed. If you don’t adapt your plan when your body starts to fail, opponents will punish you,” he explained.

Despite his criticism, Kroos clarified that Barcelona remains dominant in domestic competition. “In LaLiga, I don’t think they’ll struggle much — they’re far superior to most teams. But in the Champions League, against faster and more intense opponents, that style of play can become a problem,” he said.

Barcelona’s upcoming challenge: Supercopa and redemption

Hansi Flick’s side will soon have the chance to redeem themselves in the Spanish Super Cup, where they will face Athletic Club on January 7 at the Alinma Stadium in Jeddah. The other semifinal will feature Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid the following day, with the final set for Sunday, January 11.

As Barcelona looks to regain confidence, Kroos’ words reignite the eternal debate about the club’s footballing identity: is their playing style a unique strength — or a weakness that leaves them vulnerable against Europe’s elite?