Replacing Ronaldo’s goals will be difficult: Kroos

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos admitted that it would be hard to replace Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals but remained adamant that Real Madrid will remain a difficult team to beat.

Ronaldo won numerous trophies at Real Madrid, scoring 450 goals in 438 games while also ending as the top-scorer in the Champions League for six straight seasons.

"It'll be difficult to compensate 50 goals per season. Cristiano has been an important cornerstone for us in the past years, and was instrumental for our successes. In spite of that I am absolutely convinced of our team. We will again be hard to beat this term,” Kroos said.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner sealed a sensational 117-million-euro switch to Serie A champions Juventus in the off-season, leaving Madrid after lifting three consecutive Champions League titles.

Kroos was named German player of the year yesterday said that he was not surprised by World Cup Golden Ball winner and midfield partner Luka Modric’s performance at the showpiece event in Russia.

"It's clear that I believed this was possible," he said. "We've been teammates for four years now -- I know what an incredible player Luka is,” Kroos said.

While Real Madrid have a stacked midfield, it is upfront where they are yet to bring any stars to the Bernabeu to replace Ronaldo.