Antonio Rudiger: Toni Kroos Confesses He Didn’t Trust Madrid Star to Score Winning Penalty vs City

• Toni Kroos has opened up about his honest feelings about Antonio Rudiger's penalty
• The German defender scored the crucial spot-kick to help Real Madrid beat Man City
• Los Blancos will now cross swords with Bayern Munich for a spot in the Grand Finale

Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, has offered his candid assessment of Antonio Rudiger's penalty during the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.

Rudiger emerged as an unlikely hero for Los Blancos, scoring the crucial spot-kick that propelled his team into the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition.

Despite being partly at fault for Man City's equaliser, the German centre-half had a close-range chance to secure victory in extra time that went begging.

However, he redeemed himself by calmly slotting home the decisive penalty, leading the Spanish giants to a 4-3 shootout victory after the match ended 1-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.

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Interestingly, the 31-year-old is not known for his prowess from the penalty spot, which surprised many, including his German compatriot and teammate Toni Kroos.

The experienced midfielder admitted that he had not expected Rudiger to successfully convert the penalty, especially given its pivotal role in deciding the match's outcome.

“Advice for Rüdiger? He's the only one I didn't trust to take a penalty (laughs),” he said as quoted by MadridXtra.

Rudiger finds spiritual moment after winning penalty

Still on Rudiger, the ex-Chelsea defender found a spiritual moment after his winning penalty helped Real Madrid advance past Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, as reported by Sports Brief.

The German defender's stellar performance thwarted City's attacking threats, earning praise.

Rudiger, visibly grateful, attributed the victory to a higher power, praising Allah (God) in a moment of reflection and celebration.

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Bellingham lauds Real Madrid's mentality

Sports Brief also reported that Jude Bellingham lauded Real Madrid's mental strength as they prevailed in a penalty shoot-out, ousting Manchester City from the Champions League.

The 20-year-old, a key player in Los Blancos' 4-3 victory on penalties, credited their success to coach Carlo Ancelotti's cultivation of belief and resilience under pressure.