According to reports, Barcelona was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League semifinals after losing to Inter, a match that sparked mixed and emotional reactions worldwide. One of the figures who analyzed Barcelona’s defeat was Toni Kroos, who recently referred to himself as “the best player in the world in his position.” Kroos shared his views in a podcast called “Einfach mal Luppen,” which he hosts with his brother Felix.

Kroos admitted he was happy after Francesco Acerbi’s goal but also praised the style of play under Hansi Flick, saying: “The truth is, you should enjoy watching Barcelona play. That’s a fact.

In the first leg, they were down 0-2, and in the second leg, they were again trailing 0-2. Coming back against a team like Inter is not easy because they have a very solid defense. But when you look at how Barcelona played, you really have to congratulate Flick and Barcelona for such a performance.”

The former German national team midfielder also highlighted Barcelona’s high quality, especially in the second half of the return leg, where Flick’s team outperformed a defensively renowned opponent: “Barcelona has very high quality, both individually and as a team. It was amazing how they played from the 45th minute—or rather, the entire second half. They faced a team that defends well but managed to create space and score.”

Kroos also analyzed Flick’s tactical and defensive decisions, acknowledging the risks the German coach took: “One of the things that interested me the most was how weak Inter’s defensive line looked against Barcelona. Not just in this game, but in both matches.”

The former Real Madrid star also commented on Ronald Araújo’s performance: “Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí are better than Araújo, but they lack speed, which creates a big risk if they are bypassed. It was a risk they accepted—one that has brought them success and impressive victories so far. But as I expected, the day came when they had to pay the price, and that day arrived against Inter.”