Toni Kroos has shared his thoughts on Real Madrid’s uphill battle in the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal. Speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, the former midfielder offered a mix of sarcasm, realism, and a spark of belief.

“Did Arsenal beat Real Madrid? A draw in the first leg would’ve been too boring,” Kroos joked. “This is Real Madrid—we have to lose first in order to come back.”

Kroos emphasized the importance of the emotional spark the Bernabéu can provide. “The legend lives on. I think emotion will be key in bringing it to life again. The team has to give everything, and the fans have to show up big. Those first 15 minutes will be crucial—they’ll determine whether something can still happen.”

He believes that if Madrid start strong, it could unsettle Arsenal: “We need to make Arsenal feel it—like, ‘Hey, this isn’t over.’ They’re not used to that inhuman feeling of being 1–0 down early, and suddenly the game’s flipped on its head.”

Still, Kroos didn’t sugarcoat the difficulty of the task: “From a pure football standpoint, there aren’t many arguments in our favor. Madrid will go for it, but it’s fair to have doubts.”

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