Kroos: I don’t know. I can answer the question in two or three years and I’ll say, “Oh man, I really felt better when I was 27.” (laughs) You can’t generalise things like that. Some players have lots of problems with injuries; other players have injuries at younger ages and know their bodies better. I actually had the feeling that I was at my peak at the age of the 23 and I still feel on top of my game today. I’m going to try to play at this level for as long as possible – it’s worked really well for me for the last four or five years. Thank God it’s resulted in many titles, which are recognitions of individual class. I want to stay at this level for as long as I can.
DFB.de: There are less than 300 days until the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia: how are things going for Germany?
Kroos: We haven’t qualified yet, but I’m confident we will and I think we’ll go to Russia. We have a few opportunities to play some quality opponents from our position.
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At 27 years old, Toni Kroos has won more international titles than any other German footballer of his generation. He’s a world champion, Champions League winner and the end is not even close for him. Kroos speaks to DFB.de on inner strength, composure and his goal to always be one of the best before the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Thursday (20:45 CEST).
DFB.de: Toni Kroos, your pass completion rate is continuously outstanding. How does that feel for you?
Toni Kroos: It’s always nice to know that I’m sticking to my target of consistently delivering strong performances – not just for six months or a year, but over a really long-term period. If you look back, you can see that I’ve been in a position to consistently play at a high level since Jupp Heynckes’ arrival at Munich. It’s great that my body allows me to; lots of other players are prevented from doing so through injuries.
DFB.de: Were Heynckes’ arrival in Munich in 2011 and your transfer to Real Madrid in 2014 catalysts for your development as a player?
Kroos: I wouldn’t undervalue my year under Pep Guardiola because I think I made a big step forward in that year. I look at my career in phases: Jupp was the most important coach in the early stages of my career, both at Leverkusen and then in Munich as well. Pep Guardiola saw me as a central player in his system, which my style of play fitted into perfectly.
DFB.de: Then you went to Madrid.
Kroos: In my eyes, my transfer came at just the right time. When you move to a top team abroad and assert your position in the team, you’ve made another step forwards. It went pretty smoothly for me. Carlo Ancelotti wanted me in Madrid; he was counting on me. It’s important to get a good start at a top club like Real. When things are going badly, you can overcome it quickly at a top club.
DFB.de: You haven’t received any less attention in Germany since you’ve left the Bundesliga.
Kroos: People saw me as a good player before I left, possibly as a very good player, but one of many at Bayern. But when you’re the only German playing for Real, you get more attention; my transfer to Real Madrid definitely brought me more recognition and attention in Germany.
DFB.de: Does it give you strength to wear the World champion badge on your Germany jersey and the Champions League badge on your Real Madrid kit?
Kroos: All my achievements give me peace of mind. Self-composure shouldn’t lead to complacency. The best type of composure works to make you feel freer and therefore play better football. It’s nice to look back at what you’ve achieved, but we all know that football is so fast-paced – everything can change with a poor season, especially in the big clubs, where not much is forgiven.
DFB.de: From an outside point of view, you seem extremely calm and collected, even in the biggest games. Is that right?
Kroos: Yeah, I think there are a few reasons for that. I can’t explain the first; it’s just how I am. The second is what I said just now – accomplishments make me feel at ease. When you don’t win anything for ages and always finish second, you’re automatically putting pressure on yourself. The big titles I’ve won give me peace of mind. Thirdly, it’s only football at the end of the day – there are definitely more important things in life than winning or losing this or that game. It also gives me peace of mind to have variety in my life and I think this serenity helps my game.
DFB.de: The Spanish press have christened you “Metronome.” Do you like that name?
Kroos: I embrace anything positive. The Spanish sport press are really creative.
DFB.de: You are now 27 years old. What do you say to people who claim that footballers reach their peak at a really young age?
Kroos: I don’t know. I can answer the question in two or three years and I’ll say, “Oh man, I really felt better when I was 27.” (laughs) You can’t generalise things like that. Some players have lots of problems with injuries; other players have injuries at younger ages and know their bodies better. I actually had the feeling that I was at my peak at the age of the 23 and I still feel on top of my game today. I’m going to try to play at this level for as long as possible – it’s worked really well for me for the last four or five years. Thank God it’s resulted in many titles, which are recognitions of individual class. I want to stay at this level for as long as I can.
DFB.de: There are less than 300 days until the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia: how are things going for Germany?
Kroos: We haven’t qualified yet, but I’m confident we will and I think we’ll go to Russia. We have a few opportunities to play some quality opponents from our position.