Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran outlines his goal for next season: “Really want to win La Liga”
Toni Kroos’ renewal with Real Madrid did not come easy. The German international contemplated retiring from the game, but in the end, committed his near future to the club once again.
Over his long spell with the Merengues, Kroos has won it all. In fact, he recently opened up about how his time at the club weighed up against the expectations he held during his transfer.
“When I arrived in Madrid I used to always say, ‘I hope to win the Champions League’. I was expecting great things but not to this level.”
The German has won the prestigious UCL title five times, four of which came with Real Madrid. While one would expect him to be satisfied having won everything there is to conquer, that is not the case.
In a recent interview, Kroos revealed his ambitions for the upcoming campaign. Of the various competitions he is set to compete in, he named one as the title he desired the most (h/t Madrid Xtra).
“I really want to win the La Liga trophy this season,” he said.
Real Madrid fell 10 points behind champions Barcelona in La Liga last season, losing eight of their 38 games in the process. They scored five more goals than the Blaugrana over the season but also conceded 16 more.
In the end, Real Madrid ended the season with the Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup to show for it. The cup was the only trophy missing from Kroos’ cabinet, but his hunger for the league title is understandable for it is a larger exploit.
Looking ahead to the 2023/24 campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s focus will once again be on the UCL. However, it will be critical for him to ensure that the league is given equal prominence. Consistency will be key.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
