Zinedine Zidane has offered an interview to speak exclusively about one player: Toni Kroos. The coach, in a relaxed talk offered by the portal Real france, he analyzed his footballer, raving about and emphasizing the virtues that have led him to be a fundamental pillar of his project for years. “He is not one of the four captains, but for many things, deep down, he is. In the field he boasts an innate authority“, he pointed.
The conversation, lasting almost 40 minutes, gave rise to multiple statements. “Toni (Kroos) doesn't speak, He is a very quiet and reserved boy, but when he does it is because he plays. And speak to anyone: coach, managers, teammates … Does not cut. I have seen many discussions in which their participation has turned out to be key, “said Zinedine.
On his role in the team, his technique and his versatility: “He is so good that he could play as a '6', as a pure midfielder, as a midfielder or even as a '10'. You put him on and he molds himself. Its main virtue is serenity. He's not nervous and loves reaching out to shoot from afar as much as taking a back pass for a flat shot. I find it fascinating how easily he plays with both legs. You could even think that he is a natural left-handed man … “.
Kroos and Zidane talk during a match in Ipurúa.
One of the things that the coach wanted to emphasize the most was his mentality and his way of seeing life. “His life is football and family … The rest does not matter. Just soccer and family. He will be remembered as a spectacular player, one of the best in the world in his position. I admire your mind“, he stressed.
To end, Zidane wanted to point out how he has lived having coached a footballer like the German: “When I arrived, well, you can imagine, I was really happy to be Kroos's coach. It's true, When I retire I will be able to say that I trained Cristiano, Bale, Modric, Ramos … But I will also say that I trained Toni Kroos. It's impressive to see him train every day … What a professional. Talking about him is talking about someone extraordinary. “