Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has shared his insights on how his former club can overturn their first-leg deficit against Arsenal in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Los Blancos face an uphill battle after their 3-0 defeat to the Premier League leaders in London last week. The Spanish giants will need a special performance to keep their European dreams alive.
Kroos, who won multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid, stressed that Carlo Ancelotti’s men must start aggressively to stand any chance against Mikel Arteta’s side.
“After 2-0, it looked like all was lost. From my experience, when Real Madrid are losing in a game, there is always a phase in which you have the feeling that a goal was important, but they seemed to be saying, ‘Please don’t let the fourth one come’.”
The retired German midfielder highlighted the importance of early intensity and home support: “The team has to give its best. And the Bernabeu crowd will be there. We have to press non-stop from the first quarter of an hour.”
The decisive match kicks off at 8 pm local time, with Real Madrid needing nothing short of a heroic performance to advance to the semi-finals.