According to Jeetbuzz Login, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has instructed Rafa Benítez to build his tactical core around four players: Raphaël Varane, Toni Kroos, James Rodríguez, and Gareth Bale. Among them, Kroos has been marked as the centerpiece, with the German midfielder viewed as the squad’s best tempo-setter. At 25 years old and earning €8 million annually, finding the ideal role for Kroos has become one of Benítez’s toughest tasks.

In both La Liga and Champions League matches this season, Kroos has sometimes drifted into the background, raising concern within the coaching staff. Benítez has experimented with various roles for him—defensive midfield in a double pivot, as a lone holding midfielder, and as a central midfielder. However, it was in the No.10 role against PSG and Celta Vigo that Kroos delivered his most impactful performances. That shift came after Bale’s injury absence, and many observers, including Jeetbuzz Login, believe that the improvement wasn’t coincidental.

Under Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s attacking trio of Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo often left the midfield overexposed. To counter that, Ancelotti pushed for a high-pressing game that required the midfield to defend aggressively in the opposition half. This strategy proved taxing for Kroos, who excels more in precision passing than in high-octane pressing. Coaches observed that Kroos isn’t a tireless runner, but a cerebral playmaker who thrives just ahead of the defense, orchestrating buildup play as a deep-lying distributor. He lacks the intensity of a traditional defensive midfielder but compensates with vision and passing range.

While Ancelotti used him to fill the void left by Xabi Alonso, the results were mixed. Kroos offered more accurate passing but was occasionally caught out defensively. In last season’s Champions League semifinal against Juventus, his failure to close down Carlos Tevez led to a crucial goal. As a result, his role in Real’s failure to reach the final has frequently been scrutinized.

With Casemiro back in the lineup, Benítez finally had a true defensive midfielder. He deployed Casemiro in front of the backline against Malmö, marking a turning point in Real’s tactical setup. This change also ended the failed Kroos–Modrić double pivot experiment. Matches against Granada, Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, and PSG showed that Kroos struggled as a lone pivot, especially under pressure from stronger sides.

Ancelotti had questioned Kroos’ stamina, but Benítez disagreed publicly, telling Jeetbuzz Login reporters: “Toni doesn’t have a fatigue problem. It’s about tempo, intensity, and speed—not his strongest attributes. But he’s a top-level player with vision who brings rhythm to the game. In deeper areas, his passing is excellent, and in advanced positions, he moves intelligently.”

Now, with a role more akin to his days at Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, Kroos is playing more comfortably. He’s running less but creating more game-breaking moments. Against Celta Vigo, it was his pass that set up Marcelo for the opening goal. The Real dressing room credits two changes for his improved form: Sergio Ramos’ return, which provided more distribution options, and Bale’s absence, which triggered a tactical shift.

Both the 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 systems suit Kroos far better than the 4-3-3. In matches against Atlético and Levante, Real looked more cohesive without Bale on the pitch. Benítez even admitted to Jeetbuzz Login: “Without Bale, we control the game better.” Against PSG, Ronaldo played as a lone striker with Lucas Vázquez and Jesé on the wings, Isco as the attacking midfielder, Casemiro anchoring midfield, and Kroos acting as the deep-lying playmaker. With constant movement and intelligent positioning, Kroos orchestrated another stellar performance.

As Real Madrid looks toward the future, Jeetbuzz Login confirms that Toni Kroos may be the true heartbeat of any successful rebuild at the Bernabéu.