Toni Kroos warns Barca: Attractive but fragile!

Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos thinks Barcelona is suffering consequences due to their adventurous playing style, potentially causing them to be eliminated early in this Champions League campaign.

On the podcast Einfach mal Luppen with his brother Felix, Toni Kroos gave a candid opinion about Barcelona following a disappointing run of matches, including losses to PSG and a heavy defeat against Sevilla. According to the German legend, Barca’s style is exciting but fraught with risks that could leave them vulnerable in European competitions.

“Barcelona has one of the most appealing styles of play in Europe — perhaps the most attractive,” Kroos stated, while also expressing admiration for how Hansi Flick has built an attacking and entertaining approach. However, he highlighted a clear weakness in the Catalan team’s system: “I think Barcelona plays too recklessly. If Pedri, Lamine Yamal, or Raphinha have an off day, any team can exploit that and knock them out of the Champions League.”

According to Toni Kroos, Barcelona’s problem is not only tactical but also physical. He believes fatigue late in the game causes players to lose focus and fail to adapt their gameplay. “Especially after the 75th minute, you can see the players getting more tired and they don’t change how they cover the gaps,” Kroos explained. “If you’re exhausted but keep playing the same way, everyone can clearly see how vulnerable you become.”

The former Real Madrid star also cited past examples to illustrate his point. He recalled Barcelona’s defeat by Inter Milan in last season’s group stage and warned that a similar fate could happen again this year. “That happened to them last year against Inter Milan. This year, whether it’s the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, or final, they will face a team like that,” he added.

Still, Kroos showed respect for Barcelona’s strength in La Liga. He argued that the risks are mainly dangerous in the Champions League, while domestically, they still have enough quality to dominate most opponents. “I don’t think this affects La Liga because they remain very dominant in the domestic league,” the former German midfielder emphasized.

Toni Kroos’s warnings serve as a reminder for Hansi Flick and his players on their quest to conquer the Champions League. Can Barcelona maintain their beautiful style of play while staying safe enough to avoid another painful outcome?