Kroos is experienced enough to not let abuse from the stands get to him, with the 34-year-old initially confused as to who the jeers were for. He has told Einfach mal Luppen: “I didn’t expect it at all, I didn’t even think it was for me. The background is that I don’t think it’s good for young players to come into the league and give up the development, the big games, the high levels in Europe, which they could certainly play, instead of the money in the Saudi Arabian league. That was my statement at the time and it was about half a year ago now, for me it was already forgotten.

“I noticed [booing] at some point during the first half [against Atletico]. At first, I didn’t think they were referring to me. Then I looked at the fans and realised: ‘Oh, this is for you…just for you.’ I can say, from the bottom of my heart, that it didn’t bother me or affect my way of playing, on the contrary, it was quite funny. I thought from time to time, who will be able to endure more. With time it could become boring and in the final I noticed that there were less and less of them [booing]. When [Carlo Ancelotti] replaced me, everyone pulled themselves together again and gathered all their strength [to boo me]. You get used to it and it makes you smile. The booing confirms my statements, I was probably right.”