Just like the old days - Toni Kroos reveals what Real Madrid needs to return to the top

Real Madrid endured a disappointing season by their lofty standards, culminating in a painful 0-4 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup.

This downturn in form coincided with the retirement of Toni Kroos, who retired a year ago.

Now, the German midfielder has shared his insights and advice on the current state of affairs at the Bernabéu.

“What’s missing at Real Madrid? To get back to the top, the most important things, in my opinion, are focus, discipline, and how the new system is implemented and utilized.

"From there, you can determine what kind of player you need, depending on the style of play you want to adopt,” he said in a new segment of his extensive interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sportal.

“It's crucial for the team to feel united defensively. This gives you more energy when you win the ball back. But if that’s not the case, you’re either constantly chasing the opponent or feeling unable to press because they’re always outsmarting you.

"And you can’t get back to defend because you’re not used to it. That was the biggest problem the team faced last season,” he continued.

“I have confidence that Xabi Alonso will clearly convey his ideas. Everything revolves around controlling the ball. And if they defend better, they'll succeed in the other aspects of the game, too,” Kroos added.

“Arda Güler adds a distinctive flair to the game. Last season, he was technically ready, but now he's also developed physically. If you have a player like that, capable of playing as a number 10 between the lines, I'm all for overlooking some lost individual battles. The important thing is that his role is clear and that he contributes to the defensive effort,” the German concluded.