Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has stated that Celtic are a ‘second class side’ following their humiliating 7-1 defeat in Germany against Borussia Dortmund…
Four-time Champions League winner
The 34 year-old who retired in the summer after EURO 2024 was left unimpressed with the Hoops Champions League performances at the Westfalenstadion.
The four-time Champions League winner and World Cup champion had previously lauded Celtic as a club he had always wanted to play against prior to the two clubs meeting in September 2022.
The legendary midfield icon completed the full Celtic Park experience playing 90 minutes in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory in Glasgow’s East End two years ago.
“There is a new number one, I can tell you! Celtic Park”
After the match, Toni Kroos explained it was the best atmosphere he had ever played in, “I was being asked several times which stadium is my favourite. And there is a new number one, I can tell you! Celtic Park. It has been just crazy! We came out, and the atmosphere was good. The Champions League anthem started, and I thought the stadium was going to collapse. Unbelievable, I had never experienced anything like that.”
Celtic – a second-class opponent
Despite his praise for Celtic off the pitch, this week his comments suggest he does not think much of the club on it. 114 capped Kroos was brutal in his assessment of the quality on show from Brendan Rodgers side in Dortmund.
Speaking to German outlet Einfach mal Luppen, he said, “I think last week was the classic example of a Borussia Dortmund week. They won 7-1 in the Champions League, even if it has to be said that it was against a second-class opponent.
Dortmund will be judged by how they do in the Bundesliga, not in Europe
“And then they went to play a Bundesliga game at the weekend and put in a typically poor performance and lost. In the end, Dortmund will be judged by how they do in the Bundesliga, not in Europe. They won’t make the Champions League final every year.”
It is hardly surprising that Dortmund’s thrashing of Celtic in the second Champions League match of the season has seriously hampered our European reputation.
Positive statements from current and ex footballers about how electrifying Parkhead’s atmosphere is nice. However, we would all rather they were eulogising about Celtic’s attributes on the pitch, and how uncomfortable it is to play against a Brendan Rodgers side.
Conor Spence
