Real Madrid’s star midfielder Toni Kroos has reacted after his side were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) during the semi-finals on Wednesday against Manchester City.
City thrashed the Spanish giants 4-0 at the Etihad for a 5-1 aggregate victory that exacted revenge for a dramatic semi-final exit to Madrid 12 months ago.
Sharing his thoughts on the match, Kroos said that Real Madrid were not good enough during the match.
“Tough to be out of our favourite competition. Just not good enough last night. Anyway we go with the head held high as we were just one game away to reach the final again. Real Madrid will fight back as always,” said Kroos on his official Instagram account on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola´s men are not just closing in on the trophy the club´s owners have desired since an Abu-Dhabi backed takeover in 2008 began pouring billions of pounds of investment into the club.
Victory against Inter Milan in Istanbul next month could complete a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, matching local rivals Manchester United´s historic achievement in 1998/99.
Carlo Ancelotti´s men produced a series of thrilling escape acts to win the competition for the 14th time last season.
This time City made sure to twist the knife when they had the defending champions on the floor.
"It was so painful last season," added Guardiola. "We had what happened in our stomach for one year. I think today everything came out."
The collective brilliance of Guardiola´s side shone through on a night when stars Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were kept scoreless.
Only a hat-trick of stunning saves by Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to deny Haaland his 53rd goal of the season saved the visitors from a historic humbling.
Bernardo Silva´s first-half double was the least City deserved from a near flawless first-half.
Even when they took their foot off the gas after the break, Manuel Akanji´s deflected goal and Julian Alvarez´s cool finish in stoppage time gave the scoreline a fair reflection.
— Additional input from AFP