"We'd win the Champions League, and the president would immediately tell us to think about the next one"

Toni Kroos, the former Real Madrid star, revealed that the club's winning mentality allowed for no relaxation, even after securing the UEFA Champions League title. The German shared his experiences during the Real Madrid Universidad Europea White Week, an event moderated by Blancos legend Emilio Butragueño, which also featured Sergio Scariolo.

The Merengues' special relationship with Europe's premier club competition was a central theme of Kroos's address. He won five Champions League titles during his tenure with the Spanish giants. "I was hungry until the very end. Moreover, when we won the Champions League, the very next day the president would tell us to go after the next one," he recalled. "You can enjoy it for a few hours, until the next day, when you hear the president say: 'Well done, and we'll see you here next year, in the same place and with the same trophy.' This might sound trivial, but it doesn't let you relax. At this club, you have it in your head: 'Champions, Champions, Champions.'"

The German midfielder was a pivotal figure in the team that clinched three consecutive Champions League trophies, a feat unprecedented since the 1970s. "We were a team. There were many great players, but we understood that when the referee blew the whistle, we all wanted the same thing. We all wanted to win, and that was the key. We were also very good; if you're a bad team, you don't win the Champions League," he explained.

Kroos also took the opportunity to praise Florentino Pérez's leadership, highlighting the president's and the club's human side. "After so much time here, I can say it's a very human club, very family-oriented on the inside. And that always starts at the top," he stated, adding: "The way Florentino Pérez welcomed me from day one, how he always spoke to me... But not just me, whenever he goes into the dressing room. He conveys something very human, and that's something I've always valued greatly at this club."

The former German international also addressed his decision to retire at the peak of his career. "I retired because I never wanted to reach a point where I didn't feel as good and started having physical problems. The feeling with the ball never disappears; I still have it," he confessed. "I was always clear that I wanted to leave as I deserve, as the club deserves, and as I want the fans to remember me, because the last impression seems very important to me. I am very happy with this decision; it was exactly as I always wanted."

Winning La Liga and the Champions League in his final season was the icing on the cake: "I couldn't plan to win the Champions League because I had already decided before. In the end, everything went so well, with the Champions League and the League, it couldn't have been better."

Finally, commenting on the team's current form, Kroos lauded Arbeloa's squad's performance against City and gave a nod to his successor in midfield: "The team was able to raise its level, adapting to the opponent and the importance of the game. They played two very good matches. At home, number 8, whom I like very much, helped us a lot. Now the Germans are coming."