Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Thursday, December 11, 2025, 08:01 / Updated Thursday, December 11, 2025 08:03
The Belgian goalkeeper analyzed Real Madrid's latest setback and the team's current form, and he didn't beat himself up either. First, he wanted to take the blame for O'Reilly's goal, the one that put Manchester City back on the scoreboard.
Thibaut Courtois: “I couldn't clear the ball properly”
“We didn't deserve to lose. It was a balanced game with lots of chances on both sides. The equalizer was a bit of a mistake on my part on the clearance. The ball came straight to me and I couldn't clear it properly.
Immediately after that, the game intensified and we also got the 1-2 goal, from the penalty. In the second half, we got back into the game, but that's the pattern we're in… the ball just doesn't want to go into the opposition goalThibaut Courtois said.
Xabi Alonso: “This team supports Xabi Alonso”
Then the goalkeeper of Real Madrid spoke about the crisis of the team, which managed only two victories in the last 8 games, and about the situation of the coach Xabi Alonso. “This team supports their coach.
We lost to a good opponent who can advance. If we had gone into this game with a good streak, nobody would have said anything. The situation is complicated, I understand that, but we are all worried. We fully support the coach. Everyone fought until the last second, we gave everything on the field. There were players who were at their physical limit,” commented Courtois.
Thibaut Courtois claims 'the fault lies with the players, not the coach'
Possible dismissal of Xabi? “The coach is calm, he thinks how to improve the team and our game. Ultimately, we are at Real Madrid and there is pressure, the name… Nobody is so focused, with all due respect, on what the press is writing. We can't watch the broadcasts; we have to disconnect.
It's normal for people to talk when you're going through a bad time, but today we showed that we are not a dead team. It was a different performance to the one on Saturday. It's our fault for this crisis, not the coach's.”
