Remember when Toni Kroos wore a Bayern jersey? It wasn't that long ago that he was strutting his stuff in Bayern's midfield alongside Schweinsteiger, back when he could actually finish ninety minutes without almost collapsing.
Since Kroos and Pep didn't see eye-to-eye who jetted off to the sun and tropics of Madrid, and has now evolved into one of the finest midfielders in the world.
I never thought they should have sold him, and couldn't understand why he wasn't a starter as he is that good, as has been proven. When he was eventually sold off to Real Madrid, I couldn't believe they went through with it. To sell off a player of that young an age to one of your Champions League rivals is senseless and Pep has to take the blame for that.
Nobody can see the future, so who would have predicted that Kroos would end up winning a Champions League medal before Pep got one for Bayern in his three years. Or who could have foreseen that he would become such an amazing central midfielder, with some even seeing him as the purest and best for his position?
But there was always a chance that he could be, because he was already really good at Bayern. I sang his praises, and was impressed by how calm he was on the ball, having his head up and having a 360 degree view of the football pitch. These essentials have always been in his game, all it needed was a coach to refine them and evolve him into becoming an elite player. How Pep wasn't able to do this baffles me. He had a gem right in front of him and he let him go to Real Madrid, who have been more than thankful for his sevices.
If Kroos had been playing for Bayern would he have made the difference to win them a Champions League? I don't know. He would have definitely helped, that I am sure of. As far as giving you a certainty that with him, they become European Champions in at least one of the three years that Pep was there then that's a question I cannot answer. He might have made a real difference, or probably not. But it still doesn't negate the fact that this is a team game, and having the best possible eleven puts you in a very good position to succed.
Having Kroos still at Bayern, would maintain the quality even with Pep leaving and form that consistency and identity that is crucial for a club team. He's a better midfielder than both Xabi Alonso and Thiago, and not having him around at a club that he may have ended up retiring at was a missed opportunity by Bayern and something they will forever regret. HH
