Zidane would have told me if he was leaving Madrid, says Kroos
Toni Kroos has denied claims Zinedine Zidane has already announced to the Real Madrid squad that he is stepping down as head coach.
Reports earlier this month suggested the Frenchman informed his players of his decision to quit ahead of the 2-2 league draw with Sevilla on May 9.
However, Kroos – who assisted two goals in that game but missed Madrid’s final three matches after being rested and then contracting coronavirus – has labelled those rumours a “blatant lie”.
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“It’s been said everywhere, even in Germany, that he has already announced his departure to the team,” Kroos said on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast.
“It’s a blatant lie. Zizou and I have a good relationship. Without a doubt he would have told me.
“I can’t confirm it and I don’t know how this will end, but I can say it’s always fun working with him.”
Kroos was echoing the views of team-mate Karim Benzema, who said in an interview with L’Equipe earlier this week that Zidane will not be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zidane revealed after his side’s final LaLiga game of the season, a 2-1 win against Villarreal on Sunday, that he will hold talks with the club this week.
The growing speculation over the 48-year-old’s future comes on the back of Madrid’s first trophyless campaign since 2009-10.
Los Blancos finished second in LaLiga, despite an 18-game unbeaten run to see out the campaign – their best-such run since Carlo Ancelotti’s time in charge in 2013-14.
They also suffered a shock early Copa del Rey exit to Alcoyano, were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea at the semi-final stage and lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals.
But long-serving midfielder Kroos, who has just completed his seventh season with Madrid, is confident his side will bounce back in the 2021-22 campaign.
“A season without a title is never good for Real Madrid,” he said. “But not many people towards the start of the season would have expected us to reach a European semi-final.
“We also fought for the title until the last day. It wasn’t a good season, but at least we were there competing.
“There are of course many questions about how Madrid will perform next season. But I am certain about one thing – Madrid will fight again, I can guarantee it.
“We will return next year and fight for everything. I have no doubt about that. The experience of being here for seven years tells me that.”
On an individual level, Kroos enjoyed a positive 2020-21 campaign with three goals and 10 assists in 28 league games.
Only Marcos Llorente (11) and Iago Aspas (13), in nine and five games more respectively, managed a higher number of assists in the Spanish top flight this season.
The 2.84 chances created per game by Kroos, meanwhile, is the most of anyone to have played more than three times this season, with Alaves’ Lucas Perez next on the list with 2.7.
Reflecting on Madrid’s campaign, Kroos said: “We were not consistent enough this season. Everyone has problems, including us. Yet in my opinion we still showed character this season.