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#5 Toni Kroos
Kroos is a multiple time league and Champions League winner, and was also an integral member of the triumphant Germany squad in 2014; hence his status as a world class midfielder is not in doubt.
His ability to control the tempo of a game with his calm distribution is second to none, and Real Madrid has undoubtedly been a better club since his addition to the squad in 2014.
This season, however, has seen a sharp drop in form by the 28-year-old German, as he has been uncharacteristically sloppy in his passing, giving possession away too cheaply, and failing to provide cover for the fragile defense by being a bystander as the Real Madrid midfield is overrun time and again by opposition teams.
The midfield is an integral part of any team’s success, as it provides the effective link between defense and attack, and any team with a strong midfield has a large of matches, and an ideal midfielder is one who can discharge his duties effectively.
For so long, Real Madrid has been that team and Kroos that player, unfortunately, this season has been an anomaly for club and country, and the German would have to step up his performances significantly if the club is to experience an upturn in fortunes regardless of the arrival of a new coach.
