Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has claimed that the team deserve the criticism they have received over their recent form.
Madrid have drawn each of their last four games in all competitions, leading to speculation over the future of Zinedine Zidane despite the Frenchman having steered the club to the Champions League title in his first season as a manager.
Kroos defended Zidane, insisting that he is "invaluable" to the club, but admits that the recent results have not been up to scratch.
"I don't read the papers much and I don't know what's been said, but Zidane is invaluable for the club," he told reporters.
"We've drawn a lot of games, which isn't good, and we deserve criticism. But there have been games that we've drawn that we deserved to win. It's important that we keep playing as a team."
Kroos yesterday signed a new six-year deal at the club, keeping him at the Bernabeu until 2022.
Barney Corkhill
