Mourinho Is Still ‘The Special One’: Kroos Hails Real Madrid Masterclass

Toni Kroos has hailed José Mourinho’s tactical influence on Real Madrid’s victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou, insisting the Portuguese coach deserves credit for changing the pattern of recent Clásico encounters.

Kroos, the former Real Madrid midfielder, admitted he had expected Barcelona to continue their recent dominance, having won six or seven of the previous meetings between the rivals. However, he was impressed by Madrid’s courage, intensity and tactical organisation.

‘Things have changed, and I have to praise Mourinho’s work. They played exceptionally well, and he set them up brilliantly,’ Kroos said.

‘Playing out from the back against this Barça side deserves real credit because they struggle when they don’t have possession.’

The German was particularly surprised by Madrid’s bravery both in possession and without the ball, praising the way the team handled Barcelona’s pressure.

‘Real Madrid and Mourinho were extremely courageous at Camp Nou, and that was a major difference compared with recent Clásicos,’ he said.

Kroos added that Madrid’s performance remained impressive even after Barcelona equalised, highlighting the team’s defensive discipline and willingness to compete for every ball.

He also pointed to Mourinho’s tactical decisions, including Dean Huijsen’s marking of Fermín López, which he believed contributed to Barcelona’s discomfort.

‘Madrid won almost every duel because they were more intense. They defended as a unit and put in an excellent performance, both defensively and on the ball,’ Kroos said.

Although he considers Barcelona the better side in terms of their ability to dominate possession, Kroos believes the Catalans struggle when their pressing game fails and they are forced to defend for extended periods.

‘Madrid found the solutions to beat them. Barça faced a level of pressure they don’t usually encounter from other teams,’ he added.