"Liverpool are stronger now than in 2018"

The Champions League final is getting closer and closer. Both Liverpool and Real Madrid are preparing to play their most important game of the season, a clash which will take place in Paris on 28th May. 

The players are thinking about the huge European game and Toni Kroos has spoken about it. In comments to 'Bild', the German made it clear that this Liverpool team is much stronger than the one back in 2018, which Madrid beat 3-1. 

"It was very even until the goalkeeper's error before the 1-0 goal. Then, Liverpool quickly made it 1-1. And then Gareth Bale scored an overhead kick, it wasn't bad at all. Like so many times in finals, the small details, errors and special moments were decisive," the Madrid player said. 

"Both teams have progressed since 2018. Liverpool have got more options in attack now than back then. In that section, they've got great players. They will be very good anyway. They are stronger than in 2018. They've reinforced themselves with regards to the squad depth, they've improved the quality of their goalkeepers. And they've got more experience, they won the Champions League against Tottenham the following year. Playing finals like that helps, of course. In that sense, I think Liverpool are definitely stronger than in 2018."

Winning the Champions League is the main aim for the season. "It's the main aim. We want to be rewarded as a team in a season in which we've had to overcome some difficult matches. 

Kroos also had time to spoke about Karim Benzema's terrific season: "I've been with Karim for eight years here in Madrid and the type of player he is has always been seen. He's always been the one to score goals, but maybe his role has changed a bit now. Maybe before, he was looking more to the left or to the right because there were players who were always more 'shooters'and they demanded shots and goals. Now, Karim is the clearly the number one goalscorer, but that doesn't mean that he no longer looks to his left or right. He still has more than 10 assists per season. He's a player who's very important to the team. In the past, with him, Cristiano and Bale, we had three shooters and, with Cristiano, one who was scoring 50 goals a season. Now, Karim is the centre of attention in attack and it doesn't seem to be going too badly for him," Kroos added.

On David Alaba, Kroos said: "The fact he's fitted perfectly here did not surprise me at all because he was no longer a young professional, but a player with the experience of lots of years at a top club. He knows how to win titles and he brings quality."

Finally, Kroos reviewed the season and the win in which Madrid had reached the Champions League final: "There were situations in which many thought it was over. But before the games, the opponents were never the big favourites even if we played some of the best clubs in the world like Man City and PSG. Not many teams would have come back in those situations like we did. We did it because we believed in it. We've got some experience, for sure. But in the end, it's the mixture of everything in the team. The knockout games especially showed that our youngest players also gave us a boost. As well as this fearless attitude, you need experienced players which keep the team calm. That mixture is what brings success."