Toni Kroos: 'Don't blame Carlo Ancelotti'

Toni Kroos has lept to the defence of under-fire coach Carlo Ancelotti after Real Madrid bowed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The reigning champions exited the competition at the semi-final stage after Juventus earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The Blancos seem poised to endure a trophiless season under the Italian as Liga leaders Barcelona - whom Juve meet in the final - sit four points ahead with two games left, prompting speculation over his job.

"It is not up to the team to decide the coach's future," Kroos told Sky Sports Germany. "All I can say on the matter is that Ancelotti is a great coach.

"We came very close to reaching the final and, when you look at the way we played, this would not have been possible had we had a bad coach. I hope everybody realises that."

Ancelotti led Real to their 10th Champions League title last term - La Decima - as well as Copa del Rey glory in what was his first season in charge.