Toni Kroos Delivers Brutal Response to Wayne Rooney’s “Man City Will Destroy Madrid” Claim

• Manchester City have been labelled as the overwhelming favourites ahead of their Champions League semifinal tie with Real Madrid
• But Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has cited last season's epic triumph over the Premier League giants as a warning to Wayne Rooney, who has written Los Blancos off in the build-up to the tie
• Both sides crossed paths at the semifinal stage a season ago, with Real Madrid staging a dramatic comeback to beat Man City en route to their 14th Champions League success

Toni Kroos has responded to Wayne Rooney, who claimed Manchester City will "destroy" Real Madrid ahead of Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League blockbuster between the two sides.

Rooney had earlier claimed the current holders of Europe's premier club competition will not be a match for Manchester City in the build-up to the first leg on May 9.

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However, in typical Kroos fashion, the Real Madrid midfielder appeared unfazed by Rooney's claim suggesting his side are motivated to defend their title, citing last season's meeting, which ended in favour of Los Blancos as an example.

“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 told the press as quoted Football Espana.

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

With both sides boasting three wins and two draws in their head-to-head encounters in the Champions League, Tuesday night's first-leg clash at the Bernabeu is set to be a blockbuster as Real Madrid hunt down a 15th title while City aim their maiden European crown, Al Jazeera reports.

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Rooney forecasts doom for Madrid

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Wayne Rooney predicting doom and gloom for Real Madrid ahead of their blockbuster UEFA Champions League semifinal showdown with Manchester City on Tuesday, May 9.

Real Madrid will meet the current Premier League leaders in the semifinal stage for the second successive season after both sides played out an epic tie across two legs last term, with the Spanish giants narrowly edging City 6-5 en route to their 14th European title.

Writing in his column for The Times, the former Manchester United striker suggested the current Champions League holders will suffer a chastening defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola's charges.