Real Madrid legend Kroos talks retirement decision and press relationship

Real Madrid legend Kroos talks retirement decision and press relationship

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has explained hanging up the boots last year.

Kroos surprised many by his decision to retire after featuring for Germany at the Euros last summer.

He recalled to El Pais: "I0didn't wake up one morning saying, 'I have to retire.' I thought about it for months. Last year I had already considered quitting, then I renewed my contract with Real Madrid for another year, as they really wanted me. But my idea was always to end it like this, and luckily I succeeded.”

For Kroos, it was crucial to leave football still having an influence: "It's better to leave at the best time. I'm leaving with a wonderful feeling, because I made the decision myself. I didn't want a coach, my family, or my body to tell me when to stop."

During the interview, Kroos also defended the often underrated role of a midfielder: "It's a key position in modern football, just look at what happened at Manchester City without Rodri. When he's there, everything works and no one notices. When he's gone, it's immediately noticeable."

He recalled how Real Madrid fans linked the team's difficulties to his absence: "Since I retired, I've been a Real Madrid fan. I've heard people say, 'Oh, it's because Kroos isn't here.' And I just hoped the team would function well and they'd stop saying that."

Finally, he spoke about the relationship between players and the press: “In Spain, there's a lot of passion and pressure, sometimes more than in Germany. The criticism? Sometimes it's unfair. But even when they over-hype you, it's not real. You have to know how to manage it.

"Some players are influenced, others laugh about it. But you have to understand that it's not personal: journalists are doing their job, trying to sell. There are good and bad players, just as there are good and bad journalists.”