Toni Kroos responds to Wayne Rooney's 'destroy' prediction for Real Madrid vs. Man City

Toni Kroos has responded to Wayne Rooney's 'destroy' prediction for the blockbuster Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Man City resume their European venture next Tuesday when they face holders Real at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Pep Guardiola will be looking to claim his first European trophy for Man City since joining the Etihad outfit in 2016.

The La Liga giants stand in his team's way, but Rooney, who won the Champions League with Manchester United, has backed the Blues to 'destroy' their opponents.

Real Madrid players celebrate a goal at Stamford Bridge. Image: Alamy

In his column for The Times, he wrote: "Manchester City will not only beat Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League, but they are going to destroy them.

"Of course, I could be wrong, but I think City are on another level.

"You can never rule out a team with Real Madrid's experience and history, but I wouldn't bet on them. I think this is City's year.

"From the start of the season I felt this would be the campaign where Pep Guardiola would finally conquer Europe with City and the football his team are playing in recent months and the way they are peaking at the right time has only reaffirmed that thought."

Rooney added: "A year ago, Real Madrid knocked City out, but now the dynamic is different. City are better defensively and are a more patient team, but the biggest change is Erling Haaland.

"Last season at the Bernabeu the team had five crazy minutes that lost them the tie. With Haaland it wouldn't have happened.

"Real Madrid could not have played the same way. In both games they had periods where they took the ball away from City and they were able to do that because City had no real counter-attacking threat."

Kroos was asked about Rooney's bold prediction and claims it doesn't affect or motivate them.

"I think it’s always the same, I remember they said one or two things last year, nobody expected us to win it and we were able to do so. Apart from the words he said, Rooney is a guy I like a lot," he said.

"It doesn’t affect us or motivate us more, because it’s impossible to be more motivated."

The 33-year-old German, who has been at the club since 2014, will be seeking to win his fifth Champions League with Real.