5 Real Madrid players crucial to Lopetegui's tenure

#2 Toni Kroos

Kroos is as dependable a midfielder as they come

Madrid in their first league game wasn't overly impressive and certainly looked like a side in transition. But there was one statistic that stood out - their possession percentage.

Los Blancos has a hefty 78% which is something that they haven't managed in a match for nearly 10 years.

A lot of this was down to the brilliance of Toni Kroos who controlled the tempo of the match with his passing ability. He had a pass accuracy of nearly 98% in the match and it is evident that this might remain the norm in the new Madrid side under Lopetegui.

Kroos is one of the best in the world in ball distribution and possession control. His abilities will be a necessity if Lopetegui wishes to build a side which controls the play.

Expect Kroos to play a lot deeper this season and work primarily as a link in midfield.