Real Madrid’s post-Kroos control problem resurfaces - what should change now

A fresh Spanish radio debate argued Madrid erred by not replacing Toni Kroos, pointing to lapses in control during tense away nights. The discussion mirrors what fans have argued for months: Jude Bellingham thrives higher as a second striker, while the double pivot of Tchouameni and Camavinga can smother games but does not always set rhythm. With Luka Modric carefully managed for minutes and Arda Guler still finding his big-match stride, Madrid’s structure can tilt toward chaos against elite presses. I saw Kroos freeze hostile stadiums with two passes. Recreating that calm - by tweaks or a targeted signing - is the next step.

Post-match analysis on Spanish radio revived the question of Madrid’s midfield control following a high-intensity away fixture in Europe. The conversation centered on the gap left by Toni Kroos after his retirement in 2024 and how the current setup adapts in matches that swing on tempo and composure. The debate quickly spread across fan communities and football forums, drawing comparisons with recent seasons and specific big away performances.

🗣️ @OndaCero_es: “Last night showed again that Real Madrid made a mistake last summer and this summer. They lost Toni Kroos and didn’t invest in that position. The team lacks control during difficult moments of big away games.”

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Kroos is a once-in-a-generation metronome. Across 2023-24 he sat among Europe’s best for pass completion, progressive passes and entries into the final third. More important than any metric, he decided when Madrid sped up and when they breathed. Remove that anchor and the structure changes. This season, Carlo Ancelotti leans on a dynamic core - Tchouameni as the screen, Camavinga as the carrier, Valverde as the runner, Bellingham as a high-impact 10 shadowing Mbappe and Vinicius. It is devastating in transition and in waves of pressure, but the middle phase - hold the ball, quiet the crowd, repeat - can wobble.

In big away matches, opponents key on the first pass into midfield. When Tchouameni is pressed back-to-goal and Camavinga is forced into touchline traps, Madrid can lose their passing angles. Without Kroos drifting into half-spaces to show, scan and split lines early, Madrid sometimes need three passes where one used to suffice. Modric still creates that serenity, yet he is managed for minutes at this stage. Arda Guler offers disguise and a late-arrival threat, but he is a final-third technician more than a build-up governor right now.

The fix is twofold. Short term: restore a stable rest-defense and a clearer possession hub, often with Valverde deeper to open vertical lanes and Bellingham toggled between 8 and 10 depending on game state. Medium term: add a controller profile who can run games away from home, letting the front three kill transitions without the team getting stretched between lines.

Reaction

Fan sentiment splits into familiar camps. One group insists the DNA line still holds - Madrid suffer, bend the game at minute 70, and find a way. They point to recent years and argue the team has repeatedly won big ties without Kroos starting every minute. Another group pushes back, saying the absence of a true conductor shows up precisely when the crowd surges and the press bites. They note Bellingham’s best work comes higher as a second striker and that dropping him to dictate tempo dulls his scoring edge.

There are strong voices calling for a Pedri-type controller profile, while others counter that Tchouameni and Camavinga need time as a partnership and better spacing, not a replacement. Some fans are blunt about the younger midfielders, judging them harshly after choppy away halves. A few urge a return to the proven shape that prioritizes security with Valverde deeper and Bellingham arriving late. Arda Guler divides opinion - immense talent, but a section of supporters doubts his immediate big-game influence. The thread running through it all: control is the currency on hostile nights, and Madrid have not fully replaced the world’s best in that skill.

Social reactions

They said we’d fall apart without Kroos but Madrid always find a way when it matters most. Different DNA. 🤍

Wicked Madrid Fan (@wickedmadridfan)

We'll come back strong.💪

Daddy Tomtom👀 (@misa_sallama)

that’s why xabi wanted zubimendi.

Chuy Romy (@chuyromy)

Prediction

Expect Ancelotti to tweak before he buys. In the next run of high-risk away matches, watch for Valverde to drop alongside Tchouameni in first phase, with Camavinga given cleaner lanes to carry rather than forced to receive under maximal pressure. Bellingham will toggle - starting high in a 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-3, then sliding to an 8 when Madrid need a five-minute freeze to reset tempo. Modric remains a precision tool for control-heavy stretches, ideally protected by legs around him. Guler’s minutes will be curated against mid-blocks where his disguise between the lines shifts the block without exposing rest-defense.

Recruitment chatter will focus on a regulator profile. Names often cited by recruitment circles fit two buckets: a Spanish-based conductor comfortable in La Liga’s tempo management, and a 6-8 hybrid with elite scanning who can receive under pressure with one touch. Think of the Zubimendi mold for structure or a João Neves type for press-resistance and range, if the market opens. Madrid will not force a January move unless pricing aligns, but they will be ready for a fast strike if a release clause or contract situation makes sense. The most likely scenario: tactical refinements now, targeted addition in the next window that re-centers possession around a modern regista.

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Conclusion

I was at the Bernabeu last spring for a European night when Kroos took three touches and the stadium exhaled. That ability to quiet chaos is not romantic talk - it is the hardest thing in elite football. Madrid have compensated with power, verticality and match-winning talent up front, and it is working in most contexts. But when the game becomes a storm, they still miss the man who could fold the wind into his rhythm.

The path forward is clear. Stabilize build-up, press together, and use Bellingham where he hurts teams most without asking him to be Kroos. Lean on Modric’s wisdom in targeted windows. And be decisive in the market for a controller who fits the modern game - press-resistant, two-footed, tempo fluent. Respect to the legend who set the standard. The job now is to design a system where control is collective, not dependent on a unicorn. If Madrid get that balance right, the ceiling with Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham stays sky high, home or away.